ABUJA, NIGERIA — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially demanded the ADC Nigeria tax laws suspension to avert what it calls a “grave constitutional crisis.” Specifically, the party alleges that critical sections of the newly enacted tax bills were altered after the National Assembly passed them and President Bola Tinubu signed them into law.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday, December 20, 2025, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the alleged modifications as “post-passage forgery.” He warned that these actions represent an executive takeover of the legislative process. Consequently, the party insists that the laws, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, must remain on hold pending a full forensic investigation.
“The ADC has reviewed reports confirming that the tax laws contain substantial forgeries,” Abdullahi stated. He noted that key accountability measures were deleted while “criminal insertions” granting coercive powers were added. Indeed, the party believes this development undermines the principle of separation of powers.
The ADC Nigeria tax laws suspension demand follows a House of Representatives probe into alleged legislative alterations.
Alleged Alterations in the ADC Nigeria Tax Laws Suspension Demand
The controversy intensified after Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki raised a point of privilege in the House of Representatives on December 17. Specifically, Dasuki claimed the gazetted versions of the Tax Acts differ significantly from the bills lawmakers originally debated. In response, the House established a seven-member ad hoc committee to investigate these discrepancies.
Notably, the ADC identified several troubling changes:
- Power of Arrest: An alleged clause empowers the federal government to arrest individuals for non-compliance without a court order.
- Property Seizure: New provisions supposedly allow the executive to take over assets without judicial oversight.
- Lack of Accountability: Forensic reviews suggest that the executive branch removed oversight mechanisms intended to regulate tax enforcement.
Furthermore, the ADC argues that these unauthorized changes arrogate lawmaking powers to the Executive arm. This move, according to the party, portends grave danger to Nigeria’s democracy. Ultimately, the party calls for the immediate prosecution of any official found culpable in this act of legislative tampering.
Economic Hardship and the ADC Nigeria Tax Laws Suspension
While focusing on the constitutional breach, the ADC also restated its opposition to the fiscal policy itself. Indeed, the party believes the new taxes will worsen the economic hardship facing Nigerian businesses and households. Notably, other opposition leaders, including the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, have echoed these concerns.
“This issue goes beyond taxation,” Abdullahi said. “It speaks to the mindset of a government that has no regard for democratic institutions.” Consequently, the party is mobilizing for public inquiries to determine the extent of the alleged forgery. Clearly, the outcome of the House probe will decide the fate of the tax regime before the January deadline.
