Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has made a strong assertion, stating that the current pattern of approvals by the 10th Senate suggests President Bola Tinubu “gets whatever he wants” from the legislative arm.
Speaking on the Channels Television programme, ‘Politics Today,’ Abdullahi downplayed the significance of the Senate screening process for key appointments, calling it a “mere formality.”
The ADC spokesman’s remarks came as the Senate confirmed Prof Joash Amupitan as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Abdullahi contended that given the Senate’s operational track record, there was no possibility that Tinubu’s request for Amupitan’s confirmation would have been rejected.
“In all due respect to the National Assembly, we have learnt over time that the Senate confirmation, especially this Senate has declared that whatever the President wants, the President gets,” Abdullahi said. “So, I think it’s just formality that Amupitan goes to the Senate to be screened. It’s because it’s required, that’s why it’s done. There’s no way he would have been turned back for any reason whatsoever.”
On the New INEC Chairman
Despite his critical assessment of the Senate’s role, Abdullahi stated that the ADC is willing to grant the new INEC chairman a fair opportunity to deliver on his promises and duties.
The opposition party spokesman further emphasized a core belief within the ADC: that Nigeria’s electoral challenges are not fundamentally rooted in a lack of infrastructure or advanced technology, but rather in the persistent “human factor.”
