Pic: Senator Apkabio (right) and Ven Ikezue
By Chinedum Treasure
Labour Party (LP) Senatorial candidate for Anambra Central, Ven. Tochukwu Ikezue, has condemned the proposed criminalisation of preaching in commercial buses, describing it as a betrayal of faith, conscience and the Constitution.
The criticism followed the passage of the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by the Senate. The bill proposes a N50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles and is awaiting presidential assent.
In a statement issued by his campaign council, Ikezue argued that equating preaching with hawking violates the constitutional right to freedom of religion guaranteed under Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution.
He urged the National Assembly to amend the provision and called on Christian lawmakers to publicly oppose the clause, insisting that preaching is a protected fundamental right and should not be treated as a traffic offence.
Tags: LP, Tochukwu Ikezue, National Assembly, FRSC Bill, Freedom of Religion
