In a scathing critique, former Senate President and interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has accused the current National Assembly of being reduced to “Tinubu’s praise singers.” Mark’s remarks came during the official unveiling of the ADC as the chosen political platform for a coalition of opposition groups ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mark expressed alarm over what he termed the erosion of the legislature’s independence, asserting that the National Assembly has abandoned its oversight responsibilities and now functions as an appendage of the Executive. “Never in our history have we witnessed a legislature so emasculated. The National Assembly, whose members are the trustees of our democracy, has been reduced to the cheerleaders of the executive,” he declared.
He cautioned that the legislature’s subservience to the presidency poses a grave danger to democratic governance, allowing the Executive to make unchecked and unconstitutional decisions. This unchecked authority, he argued, has directly contributed to the escalating poverty and insecurity plaguing the nation.
Mark characterized the burgeoning coalition behind the ADC as a vast national movement encompassing political parties, civil society organizations, youth groups, and concerned Nigerians united in their resolve to “save the soul of the Republic.”
Meanwhile, in response to growing criticism regarding the National Assembly’s perceived lack of independence, Senate President Godswill Akpabio defended the legislature’s position in a documentary commemorating the second anniversary of the Tinubu administration.
Akpabio stated that lawmakers are not elected to engage in conflict with the Executive. “When elected into the National Assembly, whether in the Senate or the House of Representatives, your constituents will not give you boxing gloves. It’s not a boxing tournament. You are there to work in a bipartisan manner for the interest of Nigeria,” he explained.
He maintained that the harmonious relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government stems from a mutual dedication to national development, adding, “If you spend all your energy fighting the Executive, who will work for Nigeria?”
