The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the House of Representatives of violating the Constitution in the passage of the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill, demanding that the bill be recommitted to a fresh and transparent legislative process.
In a statement signed on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said reports that the constitutional threshold was met through “WhatsApp votes” from absent members and by counting members who had left the chamber raised serious legal concerns.
The party stressed that while it supported the establishment of state policing to address Nigeria’s security challenges, it could not support a process that undermined the Constitution it sought to amend.
The ADC also argued that the current version of the bill had not been subjected to adequate public scrutiny, warning that legislation of such national importance should not be driven by political expediency or shielded from rigorous public debate, particularly amid widespread concerns over possible political abuse despite broad support for state police.
According to accounts from members who participated in the House proceedings of July 23, 2026, the required votes were secured by recognising votes sent via WhatsApp by members who were not present and by counting members who had signed the attendance register but were absent when the vote was taken.
“The Constitution is not amended by convenience. It is amended through strict procedures that leave no room for improvisation,” the ADC said.
“Therefore, regardless of the noble intentions behind the amendment, the constitutional process for amendment must not be circumvented.”
The party also alleged that the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill was curtailed and that constitutional objections raised during the proceedings were not properly 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,” it added.
The ADC further argued that the current version of the State Police Bill had not undergone the level of public scrutiny that a constitutional reform of such magnitude deserved.
“While the idea of state police has featured in previous constitutional review exercises, this latest effort contains significant policy reforms that Nigerians have not had the opportunity to interrogate through a dedicated public process,” the statement said.
The party warned against passing legislation of such national importance for “political expediency”, noting that the objective should be to reduce insecurity rather than merely create another police institution.
“Nigeria has witnessed too many major laws and policies that required amendments, reversals or somersaults because they were insufficiently interrogated before passage. We cannot afford to make the same mistake with a constitutional amendment that will fundamentally reshape the nation’s security architecture,” the ADC stated.
The ADC therefore called 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,” it said.