The Senate has reacted to the recent remarks made by Pastor Tunde Bakare during his Easter sermon.
Bakare accused the National Assembly of becoming an extension of the executive branch under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In his sermon titled, “Captured by Compromise,” he delivered a damning assessment of the current National Assembly, describing it as the weakest and most spineless in Nigerian history.

According to him, lawmakers have abandoned their constitutional duty of checks and balances, opting instead to “rubber-stamp” every executive decision.

“The Tenth National Assembly has traded its independence for sycophancy,” Bakare stated, drawing stark contrasts with previous assemblies that resisted unconstitutional moves like the Third Term Agenda or defied executive interference in leadership choices,” Bakare sai in his sermon.

“Today’s lawmakers, instead of protecting the Constitution, are endorsing executive excess with a smile.”

In a swift response, the Senate, through its spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, dismissed Bakare’s remarks, describing them as contemptuous and based on misleading assertions.

The Senate accused the cleric of using his platform to undermine public trust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions and cautioned him against unwarranted invective and political grandstanding.

“While we respect Pastor Bakare’s spiritual leadership, it is important to recognize that his political ambitions cannot be divorced from the public statements he makes,” said Adaramodu.

“He has been a presidential aspirant, a vice-presidential candidate, and a political figure for many years. He knows the power of his words.”

The Senate clarified that the current National Assembly has consistently performed its constitutional duties, including making independent decisions on key national issues.

It also rebutted Bakare’s claims about executive interference, emphasising that no unconstitutional proposals have been brought before the 10th Assembly.

The Senate expressed openness to dialogue “even with Pastor Bakare. But this must be based on respect and truth, not politically charged rhetoric.”

The Senate opposed Bakare’s comparison of the current assembly to its predecessors. Adaramodu acknowledged that past assemblies had shown political courage but pointed out that no administration is without flaws, and the challenges of the present moment should be considered in any evaluation.

“Criticism is important in a democracy, but it must be fair, factual, and aimed at strengthening—not tearing down—our institution,” Adaramodu said.