The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the House of Representatives to restart the legislative process on the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police, alleging that the bill was passed through procedures that failed to meet constitutional standards.
The opposition party argued that while it supports the idea of creating state police, any amendment to the Constitution must follow the law strictly to avoid legal disputes and questions over its legitimacy.
Claims of WhatsApp Voting Spark Controversy
In a statement released on Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that lawmakers who were not physically present in the chamber were allowed to participate in the voting process through messages sent on WhatsApp.
According to the party, the constitutional voting threshold required for the amendment was allegedly reached only after these remote votes were counted.
It also claimed that some lawmakers who had signed the attendance register but were no longer in the chamber during voting were included in the final tally.
The ADC described the allegations as serious constitutional issues that deserve immediate attention.
Party Warns Against Ignoring Constitutional Procedures
The opposition maintained that constitutional amendments cannot be carried out through informal or improvised methods, regardless of how important the proposed reforms may be.
The party stressed that altering the nation’s Constitution requires strict compliance with established legislative procedures, warning that bypassing those rules could undermine public trust in the proposed state police framework.
According to the ADC, respect for constitutional processes is just as important as the substance of the legislation itself.
Concerns Raised Over Debate and Legislative Scrutiny
Beyond the voting process, the ADC also criticised the manner in which the bill was considered during plenary.
The party alleged that lawmakers were not given sufficient opportunity to thoroughly examine the bill clause by clause and claimed that constitutional objections raised during deliberations were not adequately addressed before the legislation was approved.
It argued that constitutional amendments require extensive debate, transparency and strict adherence to the House’s Standing Orders.
Calls for Wider Public Consultation
The ADC further contended that the latest version of the state police proposal introduces major changes that have not received enough public scrutiny.
Although previous constitutional review exercises have examined the issue of state policing, the party insisted that the current proposal contains significant reforms capable of reshaping Nigeria’s security structure and should therefore undergo a fresh round of public engagement.
It maintained that broad consultations with stakeholders would help strengthen the legislation and improve public confidence in the final outcome.
Support for State Police, But With Safeguards
Despite its criticisms, the ADC reaffirmed its support for establishing state police as part of broader efforts to tackle Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
However, the party cautioned that creating another policing institution should not become an exercise driven by political expediency.
Instead, it said the focus should remain on developing a system capable of effectively reducing insecurity while preventing abuse of power.
The party warned that rushing the amendment without proper consultation could result in constitutional flaws that may later require further amendments or legal corrections.
House Urged to Recommit Bill
The ADC called on the House of Representatives to recommit the bill to a fresh legislative process that guarantees transparency, constitutional compliance and meaningful participation by stakeholders before any final approval.
According to the party, only a properly debated and legally sound framework will earn the confidence of Nigerians and provide adequate safeguards against potential misuse of state-controlled policing.
State Police Proposal Remains a Major Constitutional Reform
The House of Representatives passed the constitutional amendment bill on July 23 as part of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s policing system and strengthen internal security.
The proposal remains one of the most significant constitutional reforms before the National Assembly.
Advocates believe decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering and community-based security responses across the country.
However, critics continue to warn that unless strong constitutional protections are included, state police could be vulnerable to political interference, particularly through the influence of state governors.
