Emphasising the critical role of the media in safeguarding democracy, he described the nation’s airwaves as the “primary infrastructure of our democracy,” urging broadcasters to act responsibly in the lead-up to the polls.
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My life under threats over tax reform laws — Taiwo Oyedele
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that his involvement in Nigeria’s sweeping tax reforms has exposed him to serious threats to his personal safety.
Oyedele made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja at a governance colloquium organised to mark the 50th birthday of Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination.
Addressing participants at the event, Oyedele underscored the complexity and risks associated with reforming entrenched systems, particularly those that challenge powerful interests.
“Reforms are hard, and tax reforms are even harder. You need courage. I receive threats simply for trying to fix a broken system,” he said.
He noted that the reform agenda is confronted by deep-rooted challenges, including low public trust in government, weak tax compliance, and limited understanding among citizens about the relationship between taxes paid and public services delivered.
Oyedele explained that Nigeria’s tax revenue remains far below that of comparable countries, making reform not just necessary but unavoidable.
He urged Nigerians who believe in the reforms to speak up, warning that silence allows opponents to dominate public discourse.
According to him, the Federal Government commenced the implementation of new tax laws on January 1, 2026.
The reforms are anchored on four key legislations: the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act 2025.
Trust, Oyedele said, remains one of the most critical barriers to progress.
“The trust in government and within government is very low,” he observed, adding that many Nigerians are unaware of their tax responsibilities due to a weak tax culture.
He also highlighted a major communication gap, noting that many citizens wrongly assume the reforms introduce new taxes rather than streamline existing ones.
“Suddenly, there is a national awareness, and they just say, the people have come with taxes all over the place when actually, what the government is doing is to reduce those taxes they have been paying, and harmonise them,” he explained.
Oyedele emphasized that pushing through the reforms demands bravery and firm political will.
“You need that courage to push through, you need the courage to take risks, because it’s very risky,” he said, pointing to the political, economic, and reputational dangers involved.
Despite facing threats and online attacks, the tax reform chief maintained that the current approach is necessary.
“What we have been doing all along, all my adult life with the tax system, was pain reliever. It hasn’t taken us far.”
“It can’t take us far. Now we’re doing the surgery. It’s going to come with some pain, but that’s the only right thing to do.”
He expressed confidence in Nigeria’s future, describing the present reforms as the most significant progress he has witnessed and calling for sustained commitment to achieve long-term results.
A fresh leadership crisis has erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the emergence of a new faction led by political commentator and activist, Alhaja Hafsatu Danladi.
Danladi, who declared herself chairperson of a faction of the ruling party, claimed to have assumed leadership amid what she described as a deepening internal crisis rocking the APC.
In a statement, she asserted that her faction had formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its existence and was seeking the derecognition of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) currently led by Nentawe Yilwatda.
“I, Alhaja Hafsatu Danladi, hereby assert my position as the true and authentic Chairperson of the APC,” she said, insisting that the current leadership structure lacks legitimacy.
Danladi further disclosed plans to approach a Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the legality of the existing party leadership, noting that the move was aimed at restoring due process and internal democracy within the APC.
She also revealed that her legal action would seek an order compelling INEC to withdraw recognition of the NWC under Yilwatda, which she described as an “illegitimate structure” overseeing the party’s affairs.
According to her, the step became necessary to safeguard the integrity of the party and ensure adherence to the rule of law.
The development adds a new twist to the ongoing internal wrangling within the APC, raising concerns about unity and stability in the build-up to future electoral contests.
According to him, the nature of electoral threats has evolved significantly, with digital platforms now playing a central role.
“In the 2027 General Election, the most dangerous weapon will not be a ballot-snatcher’s gun, but a smartphone-user’s lies amplified by an uncritical broadcast station,” he said.
The INEC chairman pointed to provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 designed to curb such risks, including requirements for equal airtime for all political parties and penalties for non-compliance.
“The Act mandates fairness and balance. You must provide a level playing field,” he stated.
He explained that media organisations that fail to comply could face fines of up to N5 million, while responsible officers risk possible imprisonment.
Amupitan also highlighted regulations governing political messaging, including a mandatory 24-hour “media blackout” before election day to limit last-minute voter manipulation. He added that the law criminalises hate speech and inflammatory content, warning against language capable of provoking religious, ethnic, or sectional tensions.
Despite these measures, he acknowledged ongoing challenges such as weak enforcement of regulations, the commercialisation of airtime, and the disproportionate media advantage enjoyed by incumbent political actors.
“Political actors with greater financial resources dominate broadcast space,” he noted, adding that this trend undermines equal access and fairness in the electoral process.
To address these concerns, Amupitan called for stronger collaboration between INEC, BON, security agencies, and the judiciary. He also urged media organisations to uphold higher editorial standards and prioritise accuracy over profit.
“Fact-check in real-time, mobilise voters’ turnout and choose professionalism over profit,” he said.
He concluded by stressing that modern elections are no longer fought solely at polling units, but also in the information space, where public perception can be shaped long before votes are cast.
Amupitan spoke hours after the opposition led a massive protest at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso; Peter Obi, Labour Party Presidential Candidate in 2023 and other leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) marched against INEC under Amupitan, on Wednesday.
The opposition leaders accused the INEC Chairman of working with the ruling party to scuttle ADC chances in 2027.
Amupitan has since denied the allegations.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE Television last week, he had said, ““Let me state very clearly that I’m not a part of anyone’s plan to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.”
On allegations that the commission did not handle the ADC leadership dispute well, the INEC chairman stressed that the commission acted strictly in line with judicial directives.
“If this judgment didn’t come, would I decide on my own? Even on social media, if you look at people who talk, they speak from their own interests,” Amupitan stated.
“The question is whether they lack confidence in what INEC has done. INEC didn’t make the decision that is causing these grievances.”
Appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi expressed confidence that the opposition party will overcome all hurdles ahead.
“One thing I can guarantee is that we will contest the 2027 election on the ADC platform,” Abdullahi said.
“Regardless of what has happened in Nigeria, we still have confidence in the judiciary. We believe we have a slam-dunk case. If we are granted the accelerated hearing today and the court sits, we are confident that justice will be done. We have no doubt in our minds about that. While we are hoping for the best, we are also preparing for the worst.”
The spokesperson maintained that, since the party had given INEC the recommended 21-day notice for its congresses, it has nothing to fear, adding, “If the same INEC that swore in an affidavit that it was aware of the leadership change in the ADC is now turning around to say what they are saying, they are not going to stop us.”
He emphasised that the party will not simply give up, warning that surrendering would make them complicit in the erosion of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
One-Party State Concerns
Abdullahi accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu of seeking to make Nigeria a one-party state, vowing that the ADC will resist such a development.
“We in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are saying that Nigeria will not become a one-party state in our generation. We will do everything within the law to resist it,” he said.
According to him, President Tinubu is aware of his unpopularity, and the ruling party’s internal polls have pushed it into panic mode.
“The APC has almost all the governors and lawmakers, but Nigerians do not want the party anymore,” he said.
Abdullahi further alleged that the ruling party is making efforts to destabilize opposition political parties because it wants a situation where Tinubu will be the only viable presidential contender in 2027.
“It is the same agenda. They want a situation whereby when we arrive in 2027, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be the only viable contestant. This is the agenda.
“It is the reason they decapitated the PDP and made it an appendage of the ruling party now; it is the reason they destabilize the Labour Party; it is the reason they destroyed NNPP,” he said.
No Boycott
Asked if the ADC will join calls by some opposition parties to boycott the 2027 election, Abdullahi said the party will never do that.
“We are not going to boycott. Like I said, to boycott is to surrender. I mean, you boycott, you make headlines — then what?” he said.
He added that the ADC carries the hopes of millions of Nigerians who have endured hardships over the last three years and will not disappoint them by boycotting a process that could improve their lives.
Legal Backdrop
In September 2025, Gombe sued at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the legality of the NWC led by David Mark and Aregbesola.
He claimed he should have assumed leadership after Nwosu resigned and alleged that Nwosu’s resignation letter was f week, INEC removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola as chairman and secretary of the ADC from its portal, citing a court order to maintain the status quo.
Abdullahi insists that the process that brought the David Mark-led ADC to power is “clear” and “legal.”
The ADC, which was adopted as a coalition party in July 2025, is positioning itself to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The party counts prominent political figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rabiu Kwankwaso among its supporters. (Channels TV)
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