The new controversial tax law will no doubt dominate public discourse for the better part of 2026. Other matters that will dominate the New Year include the economy, security challenges, opposition politics and corruption in the oil sector. Anybody telling you that the tax matter is over with no going back on its January 1st take-off date stance of President Bola Tinubu and the number one tax man, Taiwo Oyedele, is deluding himself. The tax matter may even take the entire 2026 unless the contentious issues dogging it are satisfactorily resolved.

The controversy over the new tax law is that some sections of the law were altered in the version gazetted and released to the public than the one passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by the president. In other words, there is allegation of forgery, fakery of the original law. If there are two or more versions of the tax law, there is no need to commence its implementation. The inserted clauses in the tax law which are different from the original tax law may cause confusion and may render it illegal in the first place.

Some experts have called for the postponement of the implementation of the new tax law until the controversy over having different versions of the same law is clearly resolved. For me too, the implementation of the tax law expected to expand the tax base and bring in more money into the government coffers, can wait. There is nothing sacrosanct about the new tax law now that its authenticity is being questioned. A tainted law is no law. All this ‘correct and go on with the implementation of the tax law’ is not tidy. It is still a pointer to our unwillingness to be thorough in whatever we are doing as a nation.

Why must ordinary tax law meant to better the lives of over 200 million Nigerians be forged or be altered? Can someone explain why some clauses were added to the original version? Have we bordered to find out those behind the alterations and their motives? I don’t agree with the National Assembly that ordered urgent review and re-gazetting of tax laws over alleged discrepancies. That is not the way out. The National Assembly should sit and review all the versions to determine which version is correct. It may require the input of some Nigerians and other stakeholders who have one grievance or the other with the new tax law.

The proper thing to do is to first investigate the allegation and apprehend those behind the alterations and why did they alter the tax law. The new tax law will bring other matters during implementation as being feared by many Nigerians. Some WhatsApp groups are warning their members to be sure of how they describe the money they send to people to avoid the money being taxed by the tax authorities or the taxman. They say this because the taxman will regard any money that enters one’s account as income if not clearly described as “gift, donation for burial, loan, house rent, support, school fees, feeding, medical” will be taxed up to 20%. I do not know the veracity of this statement.

No matter the oratory of Taiwo Oyedele, there is confusion everywhere over the new tax law. The alleged doctoring of the tax law has worsened matters and heightened the fears of concerned Nigerians. Oyedele is a very patient man. He will explain and explain the new tax matters on television. Yet, the questions keep coming up over which bank account will be taxed or not and which one to link with NIN or TIN. There is merit in calls for the suspension of the controversial tax law until it is purged of all impurities. We will not operate a tainted law. It will be ineffectual to do so. How can we provide good governance and good tax system if the very tax law we operate or want to operate is faulty? If a law is tainted, no part of that law will be deemed legal. Our democracy will quake if we operate illegal laws and tax people based on faulty laws.

Peter Obi’s movement to ADC

After waiting for so long, the former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has finally dumped the LP and joined the new rave of the moment and major opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and called for national unity. The opposition strongly believe that the ADC platform would enable them unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Obi who came third in the 2023 presidential election and who believed he won that contest, warned that rigging would be resisted by any means legitimate in 2027. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 general election has warmly welcomed Obi to the growing opposition camp. Atiku, who came second in the 2023 presidential poll, believes that opposition is on its way to Aso Rock come 2027. Labour Party members and other political bigwigs followed Peter Obi to the new party at a ceremony held at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu on Wednesday. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe also resigned from APGA and joined the ADC.

The ruling APC has dismissed the import of Obi’s defection to ADC, stressing that the APC has what it takes to defeat the opposition gang-up. The LP, which would be mourning for losing a golden fish like Peter Obi, is sounding happy and even jubilating that Obi has finally left it. The party enjoined Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to follow Obi and leave the party. If APC can sound unperturbed, it is quite understandable, but that of LP is amusing to say the least.

What is LP without Peter Obi? Where was the Labour Party before Obi made it popular and a winning political party? Now that Peter Obi has joined the ADC, what next? Now that Obi has spoken what is next? The coming together of the opposition is good for our democracy. It is equally good for our country. At least, it has demonstrated that the country is not drifting to a one-party state with its dire consequences. However, the opposition should not allow ambition to tear it apart. It must be focused.