Youth O’Clock 2027 Movement Calls for Akpabio’s Immediate Resignation as Senate President

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

The Youth O’Clock 2027 Movement has demanded the immediate resignation of Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of undermining democratic institutions and weakening Nigeria’s electoral process.

The call was made on Friday in Warri, Delta State, during an engagement with market women, according to a statement issued by the movement’s leader, Comrade Hon. Daniel Ezekiel Perela, an aspirant for the Warri Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

In the statement, the group alleged that Senator Akpabio has turned the Nigerian Senate into what it described as a “rubber stamp” for the executive arm of government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The movement specifically accused the Senate leadership of allegedly facilitating the removal of provisions for electronic transmission of election results without what it termed transparent debate or the genuine consent of lawmakers.

The Youth O’Clock Movement further claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government has lost widespread public support due to what it described as poor performance, arguing that this has fuelled attempts to weaken electoral transparency ahead of future elections. It alleged that Senator Akpabio had been positioned to “sabotage” a transparent electoral process, a claim it said was linked to declining public confidence in the current administration.

The group also referenced a recent controversy surrounding a tax bill, alleging that the version signed into law by President Tinubu differed from what was passed by the National Assembly. According to the movement, such incidents point to what it described as a dangerous erosion of legislative integrity and accountability.

“This is not a minor procedural issue. It strikes at the heart of free, fair, and credible elections,” the statement said, warning that any weakening of electoral transparency poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

Declaring that “Akpabio’s cup is full”, the movement accused the Senate leadership of enabling impunity and dismantling democratic safeguards. It warned that continued public silence could lead to a future where political power is manipulated rather than earned through the ballot.

The Youth O’Clock 2027 Movement announced three key demands: the immediate resignation of Senator Akpabio as Senate President; the restoration and protection of electronic transmission of election results; and peaceful mobilisation by youths, civil society organisations, workers, students and other pro-democracy groups to defend Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“This is not about party lines. It is about national survival,” the statement concluded, adding that the struggle extends beyond the 2027 elections to the very future of democracy in Nigeria.