National assembly members have been reduced to Tinubu’s praise singers – David Mark
Former Senate President and interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has accused the current National Assembly of abandoning its constitutional role and becoming a choir of praise singers of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The National Assembly has come under intense criticisms over its relationship with the executive, with many accusing it of failing to carry out its checks and balance role.
Speaking at the official unveiling of the ADC as the political platform adopted by a coalition of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, Mark expressed grave concern over the “erosion of the independence” of the National Assembly, which he accused of abandoning its oversight functions.
“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 cheerleaders of the executive,” he said.
He warned that the transformation of the legislature into an extension of the presidency is a dangerous development that threatens democratic governance and empowers the executive to impose anti-people policies unchecked.
“This is why whimsical and unconstitutional decisions are now made with impunity, leading to deepening poverty and widening insecurity,” Mark lamented.
He said the coalition represents a national movement of like-minded opposition groups, political parties, civil society organisations, youth associations, and other concerned Nigerians committed to what he described as “saving the soul of the Republic.”
Dismissing criticisms on the perceived soft nature of the parliament, Senate President Godswill Akpabio had said lawmakers were not elected to engage in confrontation with the Executive.
The Senate President spoke in a documentary to mark two years of the Bola Tinubu administration.
Akpabio, reflecting on the importance of cooperation between the National Assembly and the Executive, said: “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.”
“If you spend all your energy fighting the Executive, who will work for Nigeria?” he asked.
