The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that there is
a plot to arrest lawmakers-elect opposing the preferred candidates of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) as leaders of the 10th assembly.
The inauguration of the 10th assembly is slated for June 13.
The ruling APC had nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former
minister of Niger Delta affairs, and Jibrin Barau, a lawmaker from Kano, as
senate president and deputy senate president respectively.
For the house of representatives, APC nominated Tajudeen
Abbas, a member-elect from Kaduna, and Benjamin Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia, as
the preferred candidates for speaker and deputy, respectively.
However, some lawmakers-elect, including Orji Kalu,
Abdulaziz Yari, and Idris Wase, have opposed the zoning arrangement of the
party while insisting on contesting the positions.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Debo Ologunagba,
PDP spokesperson, said members of the national assembly should be allowed to
elect their leaders freely, warning against any form of intimidation.
“Reports in the public space indicate plots to arrest
individuals who are considered to be strong proponents of the independence of
the legislature,” Ologunagba said.
“The PDP notes that
the independence of the legislature is a prerequisite for a virile democracy
and therefore insists that members-elect in both chambers must be allowed to
elect their leadership.
“The national assembly is the symbol of the sovereignty of
the people in a democracy. The people exercise such sovereignty through choices
made by their representatives on the floor of the national assembly.
“Fundamental to this sovereignty is the choice of presiding
officers which must not be appropriated by any group or individuals.
“Such will amount to a dethronement of the sovereignty of
the people.”
He advised lawmakers-elect to assert their independence in
the election of the senate president and speaker of the house of
representatives.
He also called on the members-elect to note that Nigerians
reposed their trust in them to uphold the independence of the legislative arm
of government in electing their leadership.
“As a party, we charge the lawmakers to remain steadfast in
their resolve because we are conscious that the majority of them are resolved
to defend the independence of the legislature,” he said.
“We call on them to keep in mind that Nigerians expect them
to assert their independence in the election of the senate president and speaker
of the house of representatives.”
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