The State Houses of Assembly of Ekiti and Kebbi have formally backed the proposed constitutional amendment for the establishment of state police, with Ekiti passing the bill and Kebbi adopting a resolution endorsing decentralized policing to combat insecurity.
Prior to these latest endorsements, at least 13 states had already approved the measure: Osun, Edo, Oyo, Rivers, Zamfara, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Delta, Taraba, Cross River, Plateau, and Enugu.
With the backing of Ekiti and Kebbi, the total number of states supporting the proposed amendment now stands at 15.
To successfully amend the constitution, the proposal requires approval from a two-thirds majority of Nigeria’s 36 states, amounting to at least 24 states.
On Wednesday, twenty lawmakers in the Kebbi State House of Assembly voted in favor of creating state police, aiming to strengthen national security and enhance the protection of lives and property.
The resolution was passed during a plenary session presided over by Speaker Salihu Dangoje, following deliberations on a motion presented by Muhammad Garba Bena, Chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security.
Reports indicate that four of the Assembly’s twenty-four members were absent from the sitting due to official duties.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s policing structure to counter persistent security challenges, such as kidnapping, banditry, communal clashes, and conflicts between farmers and herders.
During Wednesday’s session, 21 members of the Assembly passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which establishes a constitutional framework for decentralized policing.
Backstory…
Recall than on June 24, the Senate officially passed constitutional amendments to establish state police in Nigeria. Legislators formally approved the bill on Wednesday.
Furthermore, before considering the bill, the senators opted to vote manually because the electronic voting device developed a technical fault.
The resolution came following concerns among senators over the possibility of some lawmakers losing their voting rights if the chamber used the faulty device.
Subsequent adjustments have since followed.
Read Also: NASS sends State Police Bill to 36 states for approval
