The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has voiced its criticisms of Senate President Godswill Akpabio in response to his remarks regarding the opposition's objections to the Electoral Act 2026.
During a gathering honoring the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Saturday, Akpabio expressed satisfaction with the new law, indicating that the complaints from opposition parties affirmed its necessity.
However, in a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC argued that the opposition does not simply complain without cause. They assert that recent provisions introduced into the law are aimed at crippling other political parties, jeopardizing democracy, and diminishing Nigeria's global reputation.
The ADC mentioned that the Senate President should be prepared for harsh historical judgment regarding his part in imposing the 2026 Electoral Act on the nation, particularly for provisions that remove certificate forgery as a basis for contesting election results. This aspect is considered an unfortunate legacy of the current ruling party.
According to the ADC, Akpabio's comments reveal a hidden agenda behind the Electoral Amendment efforts, which they claim were crafted to appease the ruling party and the President.
The ADC stated that laws should be amended to enhance national aspirations and promote the collective good of society. They condemned the current legislative environment that fosters laws degrading ethical standards.
They questioned how a self-respecting individual could feel pleased overseeing legislation that permits electoral victories without accountability regarding certificate forgery, which contradicts crucial sections of the Constitution that prohibit individuals with fraudulent credentials from holding public office.
They described the amended law as creating significant constitutional conflicts and illustrated how a desperate ruling party, like the APC, is willing to demean the nation. The ADC highlighted that the message being conveyed to Nigerians, particularly the youth, suggesting a lack of dire consequences for certificate forgery, is highly damaging.
They further lamented the lawmakers' willingness to establish laws favoring dishonesty instead of punishing it, asserting that such actions tarnish democracy and undermine the country's moral standing internationally.
The ADC concluded that Nigerians would ultimately evaluate their leaders based on their records rather than their scorn for the opposition. They declared the current National Assembly as one of the most spineless and compromised in Nigeria's democratic history, which enacted legislation that eroded the nation's ethical standards in service of one individual's interests.
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