The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his remark that he feels excited whenever laws passed by the Senate are opposed by the opposition.
Akpabio made the comment during a reception held in honour of Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. According to him, opposition criticism of the newly amended Electoral Act 2026 only reassures him that the Senate has enacted the right legislation.
“Each time we make a law and the opposition frowns, I get excited that we have made the right law,” the Senate President said while defending the controversial amendments.
However, the ADC, through a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, condemned the remark, describing it as proof that the amendment to the Electoral Act was crafted to serve the interests of the ruling government led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The party argued that several provisions in the amended law weaken opposition parties, shield dishonest practices, and threaten public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
ADC further warned that Akpabio’s role in pushing the legislation could attract severe criticism from history, especially over the clause that removes certificate forgery as a valid ground for challenging election results.
According to the party, the Senate President’s comment reveals the underlying motive behind the amendment, suggesting it was designed primarily to satisfy the ruling party rather than strengthen democratic institutions.
The statement added that laws are typically amended to improve governance and promote national interests, not to diminish ethical standards. The party described the situation as evidence of a dysfunctional democracy where legislation could be used to weaken accountability.
ADC also questioned how any leader could take pride in overseeing a law that allegedly prevents election outcomes from being challenged on the basis of certificate forgery under Section 138 of the Electoral Act.
It stressed that such a provision contradicts several sections of the Nigerian Constitution—specifically Sections 66, 107, 137, and 182—which disqualify individuals who submit forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from holding public office.
The opposition party concluded that the amendment creates a serious constitutional conflict and reflects what it described as the extreme measures a desperate political establishment might take to maintain power.
