Senate President Godswill Akpabio has vigorously defended the relationship between the 10th National Assembly and the executive arm of government, declaring that the legislature will not manufacture needless conflicts with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu just to satisfy critics demanding proof of its independence. Speaking on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, while declaring open the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, Akpabio dismissed the popular perception that the federal parliament functions merely as a “rubber stamp” for presidency requests. He maintained that constructive collaboration with the executive is vital for national development and should never be mistaken for constitutional surrender.
Addressing guests, civil society organizations, and lawmakers at the event, the Senate President argued that true democratic independence is not demonstrated by opposition for its own sake. He noted that the primary mandate of the National Assembly is to champion the national interest—which involves supporting positive state policies, scrutinizing grey areas, and correcting aspects that require improvement.
“Constructive partnership should never be mistaken for constitutional surrender. Parliament does not prove its independence by manufacturing conflict, nor its relevance by opposing for opposition’s sake,” Akpabio stated. “Our constitutional duty is to support what advances the national interest… That is the balance we have sought to maintain.”
The defense of the legislature’s stance comes amid fresh public debates surrounding the National Assembly’s decision to prioritize President Tinubu’s Executive State Police Bill. Critics pointed out the swift speed with which the House of Representatives withdrew its own long-processed State Police Bill to make way for the executive’s version. Flanked by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Akpabio explained that the state police reform was not a rushed agenda, noting that lawmakers had spent more than two and a half years holding consultations on constitutional amendments regarding local security. He urged citizens to study the details of bills and the legislative process before criticizing the decisions of the Assembly.
