SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerians to be wary of political coalitions, dismissing them as impractical under the country’s current electoral framework.
He made the remarks during the House of Representatives Open Week in Abuja, following the announcement of a new opposition alliance under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a platform for the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio stated that only political parties—not individuals or loosely formed coalitions—can legally contest elections in Nigeria.
He criticized the notion of politicians aligning with multiple parties at once, calling it “deceptive and unrealistic.”
His comments came in response to a high-level opposition meeting held on July 2 in Abuja, where prominent figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and others adopted the ADC as their unified platform.
The coalition appointed former Senate President David Mark as interim chairman and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as secretary.
Akpabio also addressed public misconceptions about lawmakers’ roles, stressing that their constitutional mandate is to legislate, not to execute infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, shared an update on the constitutional amendment process, revealing proposals to reserve 10% of legislative seats for women and 5% for persons with disabilities—moves aimed at increasing inclusivity in governance.