The Nigerian Senate has dismissed as misleading recent statements made by Pastor Tunde Bakare regarding its role in national issues, including the crisis in Rivers State and the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Bakare, speaking on Sunday, criticized the National Assembly for ratifying President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers and condemned the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan.
He accused both the executive and legislative arms of degenerating into what he called a “mafia state.”
Reacting to these comments, Senate spokesperson and chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, issued a statement on Tuesday, asserting that Bakare’s remarks had “crossed the line.”
While acknowledging Bakare’s right to free expression, Adaramodu said the cleric’s statements were filled with sweeping accusations, unfounded claims, and inflammatory rhetoric that could undermine confidence in democratic institutions.
“Though Pastor Bakare has previously contributed to public discourse in meaningful ways, his recent comments strayed into baseless allegations and overt hostility toward the legislature,” Adaramodu said.
He described the criticism as lacking in fairness and objectivity, adding that Bakare’s dual identity as a pastor and political figure made his statements particularly potent and politically charged.
“As someone with a legal background, he should understand the constitutional limitations of public commentary—especially on matters pending before the courts,” the Senate noted.
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Addressing Bakare’s call for a combative stance between the legislature and the executive, Adaramodu warned against framing institutional cooperation as weakness.
He argued that genuine oversight should not be mistaken for theatrical confrontation.
He also rejected Bakare’s reference to the failed third-term agenda of the Obasanjo administration as an appropriate benchmark for measuring legislative integrity, stressing that the current 10th Assembly has not been asked to support any unconstitutional agenda.
Adaramodu urged Bakare to avoid generalizing the actions of individual members or moments of political tension as reflective of the entire legislature’s values or purpose.
