Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused the Federal Government of presiding over the alleged fabrication of laws following the presentation of the 2026 national budget, warning that the development poses a grave threat to constitutional governance and public trust.
In a statement titled “Migrating from Padded Budgets to Forged Laws,” posted on his X handle on Saturday, Obi alleged that documents passed by the National Assembly were materially altered before being published and enforced by the executive arm of government.
President Bola Tinubu on Friday presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, proposing a capital expenditure of ₦26.08 trillion, with a crude oil benchmark of US$64.85 per barrel.
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The President said the budget projects total revenue of ₦34.33 trillion, with ₦15.52 trillion earmarked for debt servicing, while the deficit stands at ₦23.85 trillion, representing 4.28 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The proposal is anchored on crude oil production of 1.84 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of ₦1,400 to the US dollar for the 2026 fiscal year.
However, Obi claimed that serious discrepancies exist between what lawmakers approved and what was eventually presented as law.
“Our national shame continues to unfold, evident in the decisions made by our leaders, even at the highest levels of government,” he said.
According to him, the alleged alterations go beyond administrative lapses and strike at the heart of Nigeria’s constitutional order.
“This is not merely an administrative oversight; it is a serious matter that reveals the depth of our institutional decay,” Obi stated, adding that Nigeria has moved “from padded budgets to forged laws.”
He further alleged that new enforcement and coercive powers were introduced without legislative approval, including a mandatory 20 per cent deposit before tax appeals can be heard in court, asset sales without judicial oversight, and the granting of arrest powers to tax authorities.
Obi expressed concern over what he described as the Presidency’s silence on allegations bordering on forgery, institutional sabotage and abuse of process.
“Who made these alterations? Nigerians need to understand what was signed, what was passed, and what was formally recorded,” he said, warning that citizens cannot be burdened with higher taxes while trust in governance continues to erode.
Calling for transparency, accountability and strict adherence to due process, Obi stressed that no country can thrive where the rule of law is undermined.
“No nation can succeed where laws are forged, and silence replaces leadership,” he added.
