The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his recent dismissal of opposition complaints regarding the Electoral Act 2026, describing the law as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and ethical standards.
Speaking at a reception for the wife of the President, Remi Tinubu, in Uyo, Akpabio said he was excited that opposition parties were complaining, insisting that it proved he had done the right thing.
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But the ADC disagreed. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said that the opposition’s objections were not baseless, but stemmed from concerns that the new law was designed to “cripple other political parties, undermine the nation’s democracy, and lower the country’s standing in the eyes of the world.”
“The Senate President should expect the harsh judgment of history for his role in foisting the 2026 Electoral Act on Nigerians,” the statement read, “especially the aspect that removes certificate forgery as grounds for challenging election results. This will remain the enduring legacy of the ruling party.”
The ADC criticized the law for contradicting constitutional provisions, noting that Sections 66, 107, 137, and 182 clearly disqualify anyone presenting a forged certificate from holding public office.
“How can any self-respecting person be happy presiding over a law that effectively says certificate forgery should no longer have serious consequences?” the statement asked.
The party also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of lowering the nation’s ethical standards and sending a harmful message to young Nigerians about corruption.
“If Senator Akpabio wishes to concern himself with the activities of the opposition, that is his choice,” Abdullahi said. “But Nigerians will ultimately judge leaders not by their ridicule of the opposition, but by their record. And as it stands, the legacy of this National Assembly will be that of the most spineless and compromised legislature in Nigeria’s democratic history.”
The ADC concluded by reaffirming its commitment to building “a credible political alternative capable of restoring integrity, competence, and accountability to governance in our country.
