Former Senate President Bukola Saraki says a legislature that cannot challenge or reject the executive is of no relevance. He makes the comments on Friday during the June 12, 2026 edition of “The Platform,” which airs on Channels Television. Saraki argues that the legislature’s constitutional role includes scrutinizing executive proposals rather than simply receiving them, approving them without examination, and adjourning. In his view, an independent National Assembly is not an act of rebellion against the government in power, but a necessary mechanism for testing and validating governance. He adds that when a legislature does not exercise independence, it weakens the government’s legitimacy because a mandate that is never reviewed and tested cannot be trusted. Saraki also frames parliament as a forum where a divided country can debate issues constructively, regardless of political or regional differences.