A former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has thrown his weight behind the planned protest at the National Assembly on Monday by prominent activists, labour unions, and elder statesmen, describing it as a legitimate response to what he called the Senate’s erosion of public trust and democratic standards.
Dalung made the remarks on Sunday while featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Dalung’s endorsement came amid growing outrage over the Senate’s decision to remove mandatory electronic transmission of election results from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, a move critics say could weaken transparency in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Among the prominent figures expected to participate in the planned protest tagged “Occupy NASS” are human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), former Minister of Education Dr Oby Ezekwesili, renowned economist Prof. Pat Utomi, former Nigeria Labour Congress president Ayuba Wabba, political activist Dr Usman Bugaje, Senator Shehu Sani and members of the Obidient Movement.
Reacting, Dalung criticised the 10th Senate over its handling of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and its decision to exclude mandatory electronic transmission of election results.
“The Senate has no reputation. And so, it cannot give Nigerians a credible election or election integrity. The behaviour of the people and the reaction to what the Senate President considers ongoing is based on the integrity of the poll,” he said.
He argued that the current legislature had failed in its core democratic responsibility of representing the will of Nigerians, particularly on issues central to the credibility of elections.
“This 10th Senate has established beyond a reasonable doubt that it does not stand for the Nigerian people. The understanding of democracy is that the Senate represents the people,” he stated.
The minister faulted lawmakers for proceeding with amendments to the Electoral Act without broad public consultation, stressing that electoral laws form the backbone of democratic governance and should not be treated casually.
Dalung expressed deep mistrust of the Senate’s intentions, warning that Nigerians should resist any attempt to push through reforms that could undermine the integrity of future elections.
“And so, if the Senate is representing the people, they were expected to involve the people in this very issue of the electoral act. It’s a very sensitive and critical component of our democracy. But you can see, as usual and typical of these people, they just went on their own.
“We do not trust this Senate. We will not allow them to conclude what they intend to do now so that at the end of the day, we will be left with what Prof Mahmood (Yakubu) did after the 2023 election,” he stated.
He further said, “And with due respect, the explanation of the Senate President has further confirmed the fact that the 10th Senate … His explanation was rather exposed to their agenda and this reinforces the agitation for Occupy National Assembly, which is being planned,” he added.
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