The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the House of Representatives’ passage of the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police, urging lawmakers to recommit the bill to a fresh legislative process over what it described as serious procedural violations.
The opposition party alleged that the constitutional requirements for passing the amendment were compromised through the recognition of votes allegedly submitted via the messaging platform WhatsApp by lawmakers who were not physically present in the chamber, as well as the inclusion of legislators who had signed the attendance register but were absent when voting took place.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party argued that constitutional amendments must strictly adhere to established legal procedures, warning that any deviation could undermine the legitimacy of the proposed state police framework.
“The Constitution is not amended by convenience. It is amended through strict procedures that leave no room for improvisation. Therefore, regardless of the noble intentions behind the amendment, the constitutional process for amendment must not be circumvented,” the party said.
While reiterating its support for the establishment of state police as a solution to Nigeria’s growing security challenges, the ADC maintained that such a significant constitutional reform must be carried out through a transparent, lawful and participatory process.
The party claimed that reports from lawmakers who participated in the July 23 plenary indicated that votes transmitted through WhatsApp were considered in determining whether the constitutional threshold required for passage had been met.
It also questioned the alleged counting of lawmakers who were no longer inside the chamber when the vote was taken.
“These allegations raise profound legal and constitutional concerns,” the statement added.
Beyond the voting controversy, the ADC faulted the manner in which the legislation was handled during consideration, alleging that lawmakers were denied adequate opportunity for detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny and that constitutional objections raised during deliberations were not sufficiently addressed.
“Constitutional alteration demands openness, robust debate and strict fidelity to both the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House. This appears not to be the case in respect of this particular amendment,” Abdullahi stated.
The opposition party further argued that despite the significance of the proposed reforms, Nigerians had not been given sufficient opportunity to scrutinise the latest version of the state police bill through broad public consultations.
Although it acknowledged that the issue of state policing has featured in previous constitutional review exercises, the ADC insisted that the current proposal introduces far-reaching changes that deserve wider national engagement.
“It is one thing to pass a bill for political expediency. It is another thing to ensure that it actually solves the problem it was intended to solve. The objective is not merely to establish another police institution. It is to reduce the insecurity that has devastated communities across the country,” the party stated.
Warning against what it described as legislative haste, the party cautioned that Nigeria should not enact constitutional amendments that may later require reversal because of inadequate consultation and poor legislative procedure.
“Unless this bill is subjected to rigorous public examination, we risk enacting legislation that has survived only the echo chamber of the ruling party rather than the searching questions of the Nigerian people,” Abdullahi added.
The ADC therefore called on the House of Representatives to return the bill for a fresh legislative process that guarantees constitutional compliance, transparency and extensive stakeholder participation before any final approval.
“The ADC therefore calls on the House of Representatives to recommit the Bill to a process that is constitutional, transparent and inclusive. Nigeria deserves a State Police framework that commands public confidence because it has been properly debated, strengthened to guarantee the required outcome and protect against abuse before becoming part of our Constitution,” the statement further read.
The House of Representatives had on July 23 approved the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police as part of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s policing architecture and strengthen internal security.
The proposal remains one of the most consequential constitutional reforms before the National Assembly, amid increasing calls for decentralised policing to address rising insecurity across the country. While proponents believe state police will enhance community policing and intelligence gathering, critics have continued to warn that, without adequate constitutional safeguards, the system could be vulnerable to political abuse by state governments.
(Ripples)
