SUNTV GLOBAL CHANNEL REPORT
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio are working to weaken Nigeria’s democratic system by pushing legislative changes that could allegedly legitimize election rigging.
Speaking on Tuesday during the #OccupyNASS demonstration at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, Adebayo warned that the proposed electoral amendments could turn elections into what he described as “mere rituals” with predetermined outcomes.
According to him, the development poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty and democratic legacy.
“Our forefathers fought hard to secure independence, but what we are witnessing now is an attempt to reverse those gains,” Adebayo said. “They want a system where citizens only appear during elections without real influence over the results.”
The former candidate accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of not only being linked to allegations of electoral manipulation but also attempting to “rig the rules” by embedding such practices into law.
He stressed that the issue goes beyond partisan politics, describing the protest as an exercise in civic responsibility and democratic participation.
“This is not about party politics; it is about citizenship. Democracies around the world allow citizens to engage with their parliament. That is what we are doing here,” he stated.
Adebayo further called on Nigerians, including religious and community leaders, to intensify awareness on the importance of credible elections, noting that public trust in governance depends heavily on electoral integrity.
He also cautioned that although the ongoing protests remain peaceful, continued dissatisfaction over electoral reforms could escalate tensions if authorities fail to ensure transparency and public confidence in the legislative process.
SUNTV Global Channel reports that the allegations have yet to receive official responses from the presidency or the leadership of the National Assembly as of the time of filing this report.
