Richard Ogunrotifa

An aspirant for the Akoko Southeast/Southwest Federal Constituency in Ondo State under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Richard Ogunrotifa, has launched a sharp critique against the newly signed Electoral Amendment Act 2026. While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration framed the Act as a hallmark of democratic consolidation, Ogunrotifa argues it is less a shield for voters and more a suit of armour for incumbents.

Ogunrotifa warned that the lackadaisical attitude of the National Assembly has resulted in a legal framework driven by political expediency rather than the collective welfare of Nigerians. He accused the Senate and the House of Representatives of operating within a bubble, disconnected from the harsh realities facing their constituents.

The 2026 Act, he suggests, is a direct by-product of this isolation. Rather than fostering transparency through robust public hearings and grassroots consultation, Ogunrotifa described the legislative process as a hermetic affair conducted behind closed doors. “Members of the National Assembly are constitutionally entrusted with representing the will of the people,” Ogunrotifa stated. “Yet, in practice, many Nigerians perceive these lawmakers as disconnected.”

The ADC aspirant pointed to a glaring disparity in legislative speed. He noted that while the National Assembly moves with startling alacrity to approve adjustments to their own salaries and allowances, vital electoral reforms frequently languish in committee rooms or emerge diluted and politicized.

Ogunrotifa offered a sobering reminder to those currently holding the gavel: political power is inherently transient. “Those who enact laws for personal interest may later become victims of those same laws. A senator who supports restrictive provisions today may find themselves disadvantaged by those same rules tomorrow when the political dynamics shift,” he cautioned. According to Ogunrotifa, the 2026 Act is a reactive quick fix rather than a strategic blueprint for Nigeria’s future. He maintains that until the legislature shifts from a culture of patronage to one of genuine public service, the promise of Nigerian democracy will remain a distant horizon.