Call For State Policing Not Rebellion, Says Akpabio

… Kalu Flays Prolonged Election Cases

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has defended the call for state policing in Nigeria, saying it is not rebellion.

According to him, security must be local before it can be national, declaring that a
nation as vast as Nigeria cannot be protected from a single command post, as it’s currently the case.

Akpabio, who spoke on Monday in Abuja, insisted that security must evolve in ways that reflect changing societal dynamics

“The call for state policing is not rebellion; it is realism. In the United States, in India, and even in Brazil, local policing works side by side with national forces – coordinated, not conflicting.

“But in seeking safety, we must not sacrifice freedom. The hand that guards must not gag. The shield of the state must never become a sword against its citizens,” Akpabio said.

The President of the Senate, who was represented by the Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, stated this during an engagement of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review with stakeholders.

Akpabio emphasised the need for leaders not to preserve power for their own use, but to use the power to protect the people.

“Let me reaffirm that the National Assembly stands ready to collaborate with the Executive and all stakeholders in this noble task.

“Our responsibility is not to preserve power, but to protect the people. Our mission is not to obstruct, but to construct – laws that heal, not harden; reforms that renew, not rupture.

“This review process is proof that democracy is not a monument; it is a movement. Each generation must refine it, renew it, and make it better than they found it,” he added.

Stating that a country’s constitution is not just a piece of paper, but the promise of a people, Akpabio urged stakeholders to rise above regional and political party lines.

He said, “Let us remember that the strength of Nigeria lies not in her oil or land, but in her people and in their will to build together. I commend once again the House Committee on Constitution Review for their vision and patriotism. You remind us that democracy is not self-sustaining – it must be constantly defended and deliberately deepened.

“If we do this- if we stay true to the ideals of justice, inclusion, and accountability, then future generations will say of us: here were leaders who did not merely speak of change, but made it. Here were men and women who did not merely amend the constitution, but renewed the nation.”

On his part, Deputy Speaker Kalu, said the ongoing constitution review exercise
will define the trajectory of the nation’s democracy for the next generation.

Addressing stakeholders at the event, Kalu said, “This is why we have invited you here today: not as adversaries, but as partners in nation-building.

“Let me be clear about what is at stake. Before us are critical amendment bills that will define the trajectory of our democracy for the next generation.

“Bills that seek to guarantee women’s representation in our legislative houses, ensuring that no Nigerian is excluded from decision-making because of their gender.

“Bills that seek to grant financial autonomy to local governments, so that the councillors and chairman elected by your community can deliver services without waiting for handouts from Abuja.

“Bills that seek to streamline our electoral process, reducing the endless litigation that undermines the will of the people. These are not abstract legal propositions. These are reforms that go to the heart of what it means to be a democracy.”

The Deputy Speaker, who chairs the House of Representatives Side of the Review committee, encouraged stakeholders from diverse political parties to make as much input as they could possibly think of.

“We recognise that your parties represent diverse ideologies and constituencies. You will not agree on everything. That is the beauty of democracy. But I am asking you today to focus on what unites us, not what divides us.

“We all want a Nigeria where elections are free, fair, and credible. We all want a Nigeria where women have an equal seat at the table.

“We all want a Nigeria where local governments work, where federalism is real, and where our constitution commands the respect and allegiance of every citizen.

“These are not partisan issues. These are Nigerian issues.
The world is changing. So must we. In the last twenty-six years, Nigeria’s democracy has relied on the goodwill of a few committed leaders to survive.

“But goodwill alone is not enough. We need strong institutions. We need clear rules. We need a constitution that does not just permit democracy, but actively enables it.

“This is our moment to get it right. The Committee has worked tirelessly to ensure this process is inclusive. We have consulted widely. We have listened carefully. But the final word does not rest with us alone.”

Also speaking at the event, the chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Dantalle, harped on the need to strip the President of the powers to appoint the Chairman and Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Dantalle, who was represented by his deputy, Dipo Olayokun, said INEC cannot be said to be independent and impartial if the President continued to appoint the Chairman and the Secretary for the commission.

Instead, IPAC called for the Chairman and Secretary of INEC to be appointed by an independent body of eminent Nigerians, drawn from the National Judicial Council (NJC), Civil Society Organizations, the political parties and other stakeholders, with final approval vested in the National Assembly.

Leaders of the various political parties among other stakeholders were represented at the event, put together by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre.

The Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, is the lead consultant to the House Committee on Constitution Review.