A prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress has asked the National Assembly to begin impeachment steps against President Bola Tinubu over allegations surrounding the Tax Reform Bill.
The call came from Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct nPDP and an APC chieftain.
He accused the President of interfering with a bill already passed by lawmakers.
Eze said the controversy strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s constitutional order.
He argued that the matter goes beyond politics and touches on legislative integrity.
The Tax Reform Bill was approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives after weeks of debate.
The legislation was designed to expand the tax base, improve administration, increase government revenue, and reduce reliance on borrowing.
Trouble began after claims emerged that the law made public was not the same version passed by lawmakers.
The allegation was raised by Abdulsammad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives from Sokoto State.
Dasuki told the House that his legislative privileges had been violated.
He said the gazetted tax laws contained provisions that were never debated or approved during plenary.
According to him, a comparison of the gazetted law with official parliamentary records exposed major differences.
He said the discrepancies appeared after both chambers had concluded work on the bill.
The lawmaker explained that he reviewed the documents over several days.
He claimed the final version contained insertions that were completely absent from the draft passed by the legislature.
Reacting to the claims, Eze alleged that the changes could not have happened accidentally.
He described the situation as a deliberate distortion of the law after legislative approval.
Referring to the incident, Eze invoked the biblical imagery from Matthew 13:25, saying, “When men slept, the enemy sowed tares.”
He alleged that the bill was altered after lawmakers had completed their work.
Eze further accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of frustrating efforts to clarify the matter.
He claimed lawmakers were denied access to certified true copies of the bill.
According to him, this action has worsened suspicion within the National Assembly.
He said it has also fueled internal tension among lawmakers.
Eze described the alleged alteration as a serious constitutional breach.
He insisted that any interference with a passed bill amounts to legislative usurpation.
He argued that the President lacks powers to amend bills passed by the National Assembly.
According to him, such authority is not granted under the constitution.
Eze said the situation amounts to gross misconduct and abuse of office.
He maintained that impeachment is the appropriate constitutional response.
He warned that allowing the matter to slide would set a dangerous precedent.
He added that it could weaken democratic checks and balances.
The APC chieftain also criticised the silence of the National Assembly leadership.
He said lawmakers are duty-bound to act as a watchdog over the executive.
Eze claimed the controversy reflects an attempt to impose new tax burdens without due process.
He urged lawmakers to defend the institution and protect Nigerians.
