Minority Caucus walks out as House passes state police bill

The House of Representatives passed the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, earlier this week, but not without drama. The Minority Caucus staged a walkout after the bill was adopted, protesting the procedure used during the clause-by-clause consideration.

Minority Leader Fred Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa) told journalists that the caucus was not against state police itself. He said they rejected what he called a disregard for the Constitution and the Standing Orders. He cited Order 13.15(a) which requires a positive vote on each clause, and argued that the process denied lawmakers the chance to propose amendments or vote individually.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen confirmed that 276 members participated physically or virtually, with 211 from APC and 65 from other parties — enough to meet the two-thirds threshold. But the walkout raises serious questions about how far we are willing to bend the rules for security reform. Is the end truly justifying the means in this case?