The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a constitutional amendment bill to allow states to set up their own police forces. The vote was 289 to 1.

The lone dissenter was Bashir Usman, a lawmaker from Kaduna State. He didn't vote against state police itself. He voted against what he called a rushed process.

Usman represents the Birnin-Gwari/Giwa Federal Constituency in Kaduna. That area has suffered years of bandit attacks, kidnappings, and communal violence. Hundreds have been killed. Thousands have fled their homes.

You'd think he'd be the first to back a plan that brings policing closer to local communities. But on the floor of the House, he stood alone.

Usman raised a point of order before the vote. He said the report from the Constitution Review Committee was only handed to lawmakers that same afternoon. He argued they couldn't make an informed decision without proper time to study it.

"Mr Speaker, we received this document this afternoon. We cannot know what is in this constitution review committee issue. Allow us to go back and study this book and come back and discuss about this issue. We should do justice to Nigerians. We should be afraid of what will happen to us," Usman said.

The presiding officer, Speaker Tajudeen Abass, overruled the objection. Debate continued.

Usman also questioned whether existing security agencies are ready to manage a new state police system. He pointed out that just two days earlier, the House had invited the Minister of Finance, security agencies, and the Inspector General of Police to discuss insecurity. He asked: "Our Nigerian security agencies, are they funded very well that they cannot be able to tackle the issue of insecurity?"

His questions didn't change the outcome. When the vote came, 289 members raised their hands in support. Usman raised his in opposition.

Usman isn't new to politics. He served as Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly under Governor Ahmed Makarfi. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2023 on the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket but later defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The bill now moves to the Senate. If it passes there, it'll go to state houses of assembly for approval. At least 24 states must say yes before the constitution can be changed.

For now, the message from the House is clear: nearly everyone wants state police. But one man insisted that how you pass a law matters as much as what the law says.