Follow Us on Google
Human rights lawyer Dr. Maxwell Opara has alleged that the proposed social media regulation bill is a deliberate attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government to silence critics and suppress opposition voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE News, Opara argued that the proposed legislation was not intended to tackle defamation or misinformation but to discourage activists, civil society organisations and opposition figures from using digital platforms to hold the government accountable.
According to him, any law that contradicts the Nigerian Constitution cannot survive judicial scrutiny.
“I’m telling you that even if the law is enacted, it will not stand. It is dead on arrival,” he said.
The lawyer maintained that the bill was another effort to restrict civic engagement after, in his view, public protests had become increasingly difficult.
“Nobody will cage the civil society group. Nobody will stop activists. Nobody will stop the opposition from expressing their grievances,” Opara declared.
He also criticised the National Assembly, accusing lawmakers of prioritising political interests over the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
“We have lost hope in the National Assembly. They are there for themselves. They are not there for the masses,” he said.
Other News
Opara stressed that criticism, protest and political opposition are essential pillars of democracy and should not be criminalised through legislation.
“The beauty of democracy is all about criticism. The beauty of democracy is all about protesting,” he added.
He further argued that the timing of the bill, with the 2027 elections approaching, suggested it was intended to control political discourse online.
“This is a calculated attempt to make sure that people did not use social media to expose them and their policies… to let the voters know why this APC-led government should not come back in 2027,” he said.
Opara insisted that any attempt to restrict online expression would face legal challenges and would be difficult to enforce.
“Nigerians will not obey it. Take it to the bank,” he stated.
He urged the government to focus on tackling insecurity, terrorism, and corruption rather than pursuing legislation that, according to him, would limit citizens’ constitutional rights.
