State Police Will Endanger Democracy, Buba Galadima Warns

Veteran politician and elder statesman Buba Galadima has raised the alarm over the ongoing push to establish state police in Nigeria, warning that such a move would mark the beginning of the end for the country’s fragile democracy. In a candid interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) chieftain cautioned the National Assembly and the public against embracing the idea, stating that Nigeria lacks the maturity to implement state-level policing without abuse.

According to Galadima, the decentralisation of the police force would ultimately lead to unchecked authoritarianism by state governors, who could use the institution as a tool of repression and political victimisation.

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“A Tool for Oppression in the Hands of Governors”

Galadima was unequivocal in his condemnation of state police, saying, “Please, I beg Nigerians, and I beg members of this National Assembly, including state assemblies, that they should never, in any circumstance, allow the creation of state police. It may be convenient for us now, but we will come to cry when it becomes a constitutional matter.”

He warned that governors would use state-controlled police forces to “arrest, harass, and jail” political opponents, civil society actors, and ordinary citizens who express dissent. Galadima referenced the manipulation of local government elections as a current example of how some state leaders already abuse their powers.

“In most states today, local government elections are a charade, completely manipulated by governors. If you now give them a security apparatus of their own, democracy will be the casualty,” he said. “The democracy we are fighting for—cherishing—will go to the winds.”

The former member of the 1987 Constituent Assembly, 1994 Constitutional Conference, and 2014 National Conference under President Goodluck Jonathan revealed that he has consistently opposed the creation of state police across multiple constitutional review processes. His longstanding resistance, he said, is grounded in the fear of institutionalising tyranny under the guise of decentralisation.

“Nigeria Needs an Attitudinal Shift, Not State Police”

Galadima argued that the problem with Nigeria’s governance is not the constitution itself but the attitude of those who wield power. In his view, state police creation and constitutional amendments are often distractions that fail to address the root issues undermining governance.

“There is no need to amend any constitution. Let them follow what is already there. The problem is attitudinal change,” he said. Galadima maintained that Nigerian leaders routinely flout existing laws, and until there is a cultural and ethical transformation in leadership, no structural reform would be meaningful.

He also dismissed ongoing calls for the creation of new states and further restructuring as attempts to appease ethnic or regional sentiments without delivering real development.

“If the legislators are just looking for money to spend from the budget through new states, let them take the money and share it. We don’t need more states. We need a national orientation that teaches our people to behave differently,” Galadima added.

“Focus on Electoral Reforms, Not Structural Expansion”

Galadima passionately advocated for urgent electoral reforms as the only pathway to restoring the legitimacy of democratic governance in Nigeria. According to him, fair elections where votes genuinely count are the foundation of any democratic society, and without them, structural changes—such as state police—are meaningless or even dangerous.

“What we need now is electoral reform where the votes of the people should count,” he said. “This is where politicians from all persuasions must come together to demand credible elections.”

He lamented the inability of successive governments and legislatures to push through genuine electoral reforms and suggested that pressure may need to come from external forces, even if symbolic.

“If we can’t do it from this National Assembly and state assemblies, then let’s appeal to those in authority that the people in power fear,” Galadima said. “I’m not saying Nigeria should become a British or American colony, but it is only them that can talk to our rulers and they scamper for cover.”

A Stark Warning to Nigeria’s Democracy

Buba Galadima’s warning stands as a stark caution to Nigeria’s political leadership as the country debates critical national reforms. While proponents of state police argue that it could improve security, especially at the grassroots level, critics like Galadima believe the risks far outweigh the potential benefits.

For him, the conversation must move away from structural experiments and focus squarely on making Nigeria’s democracy functional through credible elections, institutional discipline, and ethical leadership. As the National Assembly continues to deliberate on constitutional matters, Galadima’s voice adds weight to a growing call for reforms grounded in principle rather than political expediency.