A bipartisan group of House of Representatives members has sounded the alarm over what it calls the “nosediving” of Nigeria’s democracy, pointing to alleged constitutional violations, chronic budget failures, opaque spending, rising insecurity, and deepening economic hardship.

Operating under the Save Democracy Group, the lawmakers urged the National Assembly leadership to immediately reconvene both chambers for an emergency plenary to confront these threats to constitutional order and accountability.

In a statement released Friday and signed by Awaji-Inombek Abiante (group leader), Abubakar Kusada, and Mansur Jega, the members declared: “Nigeria’s democracy is nosediving, and silence in the face of repeated constitutional violations and institutional failures can no longer be justified.”

The group described itself as a cross-party platform within the 10th National Assembly dedicated to upholding the constitution, legislative independence, and the rule of law, not as an opposition vehicle or tool for any political agenda. 

It accused public institutions of increasingly prioritising political convenience over due process and citizens’ welfare.Among key concerns, the lawmakers criticised the National Assembly’s approval of a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025, claiming voice votes were used instead of the required two-thirds majority of all members in each chamber.

They also challenged the reported passage of the Executive State Police Constitutional Alteration Bill by the House on July 23, 2026. While the Speaker announced 311 votes in favour, some members present disputed the count, insisting fewer than the constitutional threshold were physically in the chamber. 

The group further alleged that WhatsApp votes from absent lawmakers were included in the total.“The Constitution cannot be altered by presumption, improvisation or undisclosed voting arrangements,” they stated, adding that while state police may be desirable, it must follow proper legal procedures.

On fiscal matters, the group accused the Federal Government of routinely failing to implement Appropriation Acts fully. 

It highlighted delays, extensions, and rollovers across the 2024, 2025, and 2026 budgets, noting government indications that only about 30 percent of the 2025 capital budget would be funded, with the rest carried over.

“Appropriation Acts are not campaign promises, policy suggestions or ceremonial documents. They are laws,” the statement emphasised. 

The lawmakers demanded full implementation reports for recent budgets, disclosure of capital releases to MDAs, revenue-expenditure reconciliations, and explanations for unreleased funds. 

They also called for a joint parliamentary probe into chronic under-implementation and possible constitutional consequences.

Citing reports they attributed to the International Monetary Fund, the group claimed roughly two percent of Nigeria’s GDP about ₦8.83 trillion had not appeared in recent official budgets. 

It demanded an independent forensic audit of any off-budget spending, stressing that “every naira spent by the government belongs to the Nigerian people.”

Security funding drew sharp criticism as well. Budget data reportedly showed nearly the entire allocation for the Presidential Air Fleet (about ₦20.27 billion) released, while only a fraction of the Nigerian Army’s equipment funding was made available. 

The lawmakers questioned why official mobility received more reliable support than resources needed by troops fighting terrorists and bandits, and called for immediate release of appropriated capital funds to the armed forces, police, and intelligence agencies.

The group praised interventions by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria on insecurity, hardship, democratic decline, and the risks of one-party dominance, describing constructive criticism as a democratic duty rather than hostility.

Their primary demand remains the swift return of the Senate and House to plenary under Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to address budget failures, the state police bill controversy, alleged off-budget spending, security funding shortfalls, and the overall security crisis.

“The National Assembly is not merely an institution for passing executive bills,” they argued. 

“It is an independent arm of government… empowered to represent the people, defend the Constitution, appropriate public funds, conduct oversight and hold the executive accountable.”

The lawmakers insisted they do not oppose state police, economic reforms, or legitimate spending only unconstitutional shortcuts, unimplemented budgets, opaque expenditure, and the failure to protect citizens. 

They warned that the 10th Assembly will be judged by its response, concluding: “Nigeria’s democracy must be protected before it is too late.” 

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