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“Put It in the Law or Resign”: Adewole Adebayo Blasts Senate Over Electoral Act, Warns of Mass Resistance

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By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

Tension over Nigeria’s proposed Electoral Act amendment escalated on yesterday as Prince Adewole Adebayo delivered a blistering rebuke of the National Assembly, following the Senate’s decision to exclude electronic transmission of election results from the bill.

Speaking in a fiery interview, Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election accused the Senate leadership of betraying the will of Nigerians and deliberately undermining the prospects of free and fair elections.

He dismissed comments by Senate President Godswill Akpabio suggesting that public outrage over the decision was premature, describing the remark as “highly irresponsible.


“Every stage of the legislative process attracts scrutiny,” Adebayo said.

“The provision for electronic transmission was already there. Once you show the intention not to listen to the aspirations of the people, Nigerians have a right to react.”

Using a stark metaphor, he likened the Senate’s action to an act of provocation.

“The moment you pull out a gun at me, that is the time I need to react. You don’t say you haven’t pulled the trigger. By then, it is already too late,” he said.

Adebayo warned that lawmakers occupy the Senate chamber only by the mandate of the Nigerian people and risk losing legitimacy if they act contrary to public interest.

“If you want to serve somebody’s personal interest, do it in your private capacity,” he declared.

“Not at a time when we are trying to pass one of the most important amendments of our generation.”

According to him, real-time electronic transmission of results is no longer optional but essential.

“We needed it years ago. At the very least, we need it now,” he said.

In one of his strongest statements yet, Adebayo issued a direct warning to Senate President Akpabio, Speaker of the House Abbas Tajudeen, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that Nigerians would not back down on the issue.

“We are extremely serious and sensitive about electronic transmission,” he said.

“If they want this democracy to end on this subject, we will give it to them. They must put it in the law, because that is what the people want — or they should resign and leave.”

Rejecting suggestions that public anger would fade within days, Adebayo vowed sustained resistance if the demand is ignored.

“If you don’t put electronic transmission in the law, this election will not hold, and the government will leave. We will do whatever it takes legally — and pragmatically — because they are not acting legally.”

Despite the tough rhetoric, he stressed that his position was rooted in love for the country, not chaos.

“I don’t mind contesting an election that is free and fair and losing,” he said.

“I will salute the winner. But anyone dancing around electronic transmission has shown clearly that they do not want a free and fair election.”

Meanwhile, Adebayo welcomed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s recognition of the Sadiq Gombe–led leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing it as a victory for the rule of law.

“The recognition is good for INEC,” he said, noting that the commission had previously interfered in the party’s internal affairs.

“It is the same executive we had then that we still have now.”

He clarified that internal disciplinary actions within the party — including a voluntary resignation and the removal of two suspended officials — were never INEC’s concern.

“We went to court, and now INEC has agreed to obey the law and treat us fairly,” he added.

“There is no faction in the party.”

As debate over the Electoral Act intensifies, Adebayo’s comments signal that the battle over electronic transmission of results is far from over — and may yet become a defining test for Nigeria’s democracy.

POLITICS

Tinubu Needs Second Term to Complete Reforms, Says Oyetola

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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, says President Bola Tinubu needs a second term to complete ongoing reforms and stabilize Nigeria’s economy.

Oyetola, leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, said continuity was crucial at this stage of national development.

In a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola said the President required more time to further deliver democratic dividends.

Recall that on Feb. 14, 2026, Oyetola led the Osun APC to endorse Tinubu at a reception in Osogbo.

According to him, the endorsement followed a careful assessment of the administration’s performance and reform agenda.

“Continuity is crucial at this stage of Nigeria’s development.

“A second term will enable the President to consolidate ongoing reforms, complete major infrastructure projects and fully stabilise the economy.

“President Tinubu has demonstrated courage, capacity and commitment to reposition Nigeria.

“What he needs now is time to complete the good job he has started,” Oyetola said.

He said Tinubu took difficult but necessary decisions at the beginning of his tenure to rescue the economy.

“President Tinubu took courageous and necessary decisions at the outset of his administration to rescue Nigeria’s economy from the brink of collapse.

“These bold fiscal and monetary reforms were not easy, but they were inevitable to stabilise the system and restore confidence.

“Today, we are witnessing improved revenue generation, greater transparency in public finance and renewed investor confidence in our economy,” he said.

Oyetola noted that infrastructure development remained central to the administration’s strategy.

“The President has prioritised massive investments in roads, rail, ports and energy infrastructure across the country.

“These strategic projects are expanding economic opportunities, enhancing connectivity and stimulating job creation nationwide.

“They are laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth and long-term national development,” he said.

The minister also commended the President’s social welfare initiatives.

“While pursuing reforms, the administration has not lost sight of the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.

“Through targeted intervention programmes, student loan initiatives and support for small and medium-sized enterprises, the government is cushioning reform impacts.

“This demonstrates that the President is not only reform-minded but also compassionate and people-focused,” he said.

Oyetola added that security coordination had improved under Tinubu’s leadership.

He said increased support for law enforcement was strengthening national stability.

The minister assured that APC members in Osun were fully aligned behind Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Oyetola also expressed confidence that the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, would win the Aug. 15 election in the state. 

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POLITICS

Oyo APC Urges Members to Disregard Fake Exco Lists in Circulation

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The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has urged members and the general public to disregard the fake list of new executives of the party at Ward and local government level in circulation.

APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, on Saturday in Ibadan, described the list containing different names of purported new excos members as fake.

Sadare said that the list was being circulated by some mischievous elements to cause disaffection and frustrate the overall interest of the stakeholders and genuine supporters of the APC.

It would be recalled that members of the party in the state participated in the nationwide Ward and LGA congresses held on Feb.

18 and Feb. 21 respectively.

At the congresses, new set of officials, expected to manage the affairs of the party at the grassroots level for the next four years, were elected.

According to Sadare, the party is preparing to hold its state congress on Tuesday at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.

He urged members and supporters of the party to grace the occasion “as all arrangements have been put in place to make it a huge success.

 “We have been inundated with reports of some fake documents being circulated on social media platforms as the lists of the newly elected executive committee members for some Wards and Local Government Areas in the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we stand by the outcome of the congresses as successfully done across the 351 Wards and 33 LGAs in the state.

“The consensus arrangement which was prescribed by the national leadership was employed and this gave us the desired results.

 “Therefore, nobody should entertain any fear regarding the status of those who emerged as Ward and Local Government Area executive committee members at the concluded congresses.

 “Their inauguration will be done as soon as the new State Executive Committee is put in place.

 “Also, a new state Exco will emerge on Tuesday through consensus and each of the 33 LGA will have the opportunity to send their choice candidates as representatives.

Sadare urged members and supporters of the party not to worry about the alleged fake list in circulation, stressing “the party is waxing stronger everyday.”

He urged party members and supporters not to entertain fear “as there would be no room for distractions or sabotage from any quarters.

 “There is no doubting the fact that APC is the only serious political party in the country, particularly in Oyo state.

“And as democrats, we will always act to sustain constitutional democracy and the rule of law.” he stated.

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POLITICS

ADC Opens Free Online Membership Registration Portal Nationwide

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African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced the commencement of its free online membership registration and revalidation exercise nationwide launched in February.

This is contained in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Abdullahi said the new digital platform available at www.

adcregistration.ng is crucial to the party’s presentation for the 2027 general elections as well as its various congresses and conventions.

He stated that manual registration would continue simultaneously across the country.

“The new digital registration platform is designed to enable the party to meet requirements of the new Electoral Act 2026 regarding the digital membership register.

“Accordingly, only individuals whose membership details are fully captured and verified in the party’s official digital register will be eligible to vote or be voted for in the party’s primaries.

“Since the launch of the physical and grassroots membership exercise in February, we have recorded strong interests from Nigerians across states and the diaspora.

“It was designed to remove barriers to entry and ensure that every eligible Nigerian, who wishes to identify with the ADC can do so seamlessly and securely,” the party said.

The spokesman urged members who had registered on the party’s previous platform to also revalidate their membership on the new digital portal.

He noted that additional mandatory information is now required to ensure full compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.

He encouraged support groups and associations to take advantage of the window to register.

According to him, ADC would like to emphasise that the exercise is without prejudice to our firm objections to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

He added that the party remained committed to building a modern, inclusive, and citizen-driven political movement capable of delivering a better Nigeria that works for all.

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