The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday rebuked Pastor Tunde Bakare, Senior Pastor and Serving Overseer of the Global Community Citadel Church, for his recent critical remarks about the 10th National Assembly, stating that the pastor had “crossed the line.”
The Senate’s response came through a statement issued in Abuja by Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs.
During his Easter State-of-the-Nation address in Lagos, Bakare — who contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket in 2022 — accused President Bola Tinubu of reducing the National Assembly to what he described as “a haven for legislative rascality,” even likening it to the unofficial 48th member of the president’s cabinet. He also condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and criticized the Assembly for endorsing it.
Bakare further decried worsening insecurity in the country, pointing to renewed violence in Plateau, Benue, and Enugu states.
In response, Senator Adaramodu described the pastor’s remarks as sweeping, disparaging, and politically driven.
“We regard his harsh criticism of the National Assembly as a politically motivated, one-sided sermon disguised as a national address,” the statement said.
Adaramodu emphasized that the Senate would not comment on matters already before the courts, citing respect for the rule of law and judicial independence.
He acknowledged that tension between the legislative and executive branches is sometimes seen as part of a healthy democracy but argued that such friction does not automatically imply effective oversight.
“To make blanket accusations against an entire institution due to personal grievances or political ambitions is not only unfair but detrimental to our democratic progress,” he said.
While affirming Bakare’s constitutional right to speak on national issues, the Senate maintained that he had overreached by making unverified and damaging claims. The Senate, Adaramodu explained, felt obligated to respond to prevent public misinformation.
He noted that the National Assembly had, on several occasions, constructively disagreed with the executive—citing debates around the Rivers State emergency declaration, which Bakare mentioned.
Adaramodu also criticized Bakare’s comparison of the current Assembly with the legislature’s historic rejection of the controversial Third Term bid under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“It’s important to clarify that this administration has not proposed any unconstitutional measures to the 10th Assembly—unlike the infamous Third Term agenda Pastor Bakare used as a point of reference,” he said.
In closing, Adaramodu called for more respectful and fact-based public discourse.
“Nigeria’s challenges call for dialogue grounded in truth, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to national development—not divisive rhetoric that erodes trust in democratic institutions. The Senate remains open to constructive engagement with all Nigerians, including Pastor Bakare,” he concluded.