The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has rejected the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill 2025, sent by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to the Kwara State House of Assembly for deliberation and assent.
Speaking during the public hearing on the FOI bill at the State House of Assembly on Monday, the state publicity secretary, Olusegun Adewara, described the bill as undemocratic.
The PDP stated that a specific provision in the bill, Section 31(1) and (2), seeks to place absolute control of public information in the hands of the executive.
Section 31 of the bill states that no information shall be disclosed without the governor’s prior written consent and that no public official would be held liable for failure to release information if delayed by the governor’s consent.
“For the record, Section 31(1) of the bill reads: ‘Notwithstanding any provision of this law, no information shall be made available to any applicant without the prior consent of the governor in writing. (2) No one acting pursuant to this law shall be liable in any way if non-compliance with the sections in the law is due to delay in the governor granting his consent.'”
The party argued that such a clause would shield corruption, protect incompetence, and embolden impunity in the state.
The PDP also stated that retaining such a clause would render the bill meaningless and turn it into a “Governor’s Secrecy Law,” warning that it could undermine transparency and accountability in governance.
“Our democracy thrives when institutions are stronger than individuals. The insertion of Section 31 is an attempt to weaken institutions and consolidate power in the hands of a single man,” the party said.
The PDP further declared that it would mobilise legal and democratic tools to challenge the bill if Section 31 is not removed.
“We shall mobilise every legal and democratic instrument at our disposal to challenge this illegality, including approaching the court if this black-market clause is not removed,” the party said.
“We, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, stand before you today not only as a political party but as a voice of conscience, a guardian of democracy, and a defender of the people’s right to know. We are here because our future as a people and the credibility of our institutions are under imminent threat from an executive bill that is anti-people and undemocratic.”
The PDP called on civil society, the media, and all well-meaning citizens of Kwara State to resist the bill in its current form.
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