State Police: Governors’ Excuse On Control Over Security Agencies Now Removed – Sowunmi

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, has dismissed concerns that state police may be abused by governors, describing such fears as “annoying.”

Naijaonpoint reports that Sowunmi spoke on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he commended President Bola Tinubu for backing the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police.

The PDP chieftain praised Tinubu for pushing the proposal, saying the argument that state police could be abused should not stop the reform.

“Mr President, ‘Eagle One’, well done, because the argument people made that ‘Oh, it would be abused’ is annoying,” he said.

According to him, the passage of the bill has removed the long-standing excuse by governors that they lack control over security agencies in their states.

“Now we have removed that excuse,” Sowunmi said.

Sowunmi said state governors must now take greater responsibility for securing lives and property within their territories.

He noted that governors had often blamed insecurity on their lack of control over the police and other security structures.

The Senate on Wednesday passed the state police bill after it was transmitted by Tinubu as part of efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.

The bill was considered after Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, presented its general principles.

It later scaled second reading, was considered clause-by-clause and passed third reading.

A major provision of the bill empowers state governors to appoint commissioners of police for their states, subject to confirmation by the state Houses of Assembly.

The move comes amid growing calls for decentralised policing following rising cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

Tinubu had earlier urged senators to consider amending the Constitution to accommodate state police.

“We are facing terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. But we will never fail to make the right response to these challenges,” Tinubu said during a February 26, 2026, interfaith breakfast with senators at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“What I will ask for tonight is for you to start thinking about how best to amend the Constitution to incorporate state police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear,” he added.