The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has joined the growing chorus of opposition demanding an immediate freeze on President Bola Tinubu’s 2026 tax reforms. The party’s call comes amid a deepening scandal over claims that the versions of the laws signed into effect were “forged” and differ significantly from the bills actually passed by the National Assembly.
In a scathing statement issued by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC warned that the country is witnessing a “direct assault on constitutional governance” just days before the laws are set to go live on January 1, 2026.
Allegations of “Criminal Alterations”
The controversy erupted after a forensic review by the party and separate reports from federal lawmakers suggested that key provisions were added or deleted after the legislature had already finished its work. According to the ADC, these secret edits stripped away essential oversight and granted the executive branch “totalitarian” new powers.
One of the most alarming “criminal insertions,” the party alleges, gives the government the express power to arrest citizens and seize their property without a court order if they are deemed non-compliant with the new tax codes.
“To accept that the Executive could whimsically insert or remove even a punctuation mark from a piece of legislation after it has been passed… is to arrogate law-making powers to the Executive,” the statement read. “This portends great danger to our democracy.“
Beyond the Economy
While much of the debate around the tax reforms has focused on the “misery and hardship” they might cause businesses and households, the ADC argues that the issue has now shifted into a crisis of ethics and the rule of law.
The party accused the administration of having a “criminal mindset” and an appetite for concentrating all powers within the presidency, bypassing the 469 elected representatives of the Nigerian people.
The ADC’s Demands
The opposition party is calling for three immediate actions to resolve the crisis:
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Immediate Suspension: A total halt of the 2025 tax laws before their January 1 start date to allow for a full legislative review.
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Public Inquiry: An independent investigation to determine how the “forgery” occurred and who was responsible for the alterations.
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Prosecution: Criminal charges for any government official involved in tampering with the passed bills.
