• Senators-elect Oppose APC’s ‘Anointed’ Candidates
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it called “plot by elements in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate, harass and even arrest” some senators-elect and members-elect opposed to the endorsed candidates of the Presidency and the leadership of the APC.
It expressed dismay at the alleged intimation, which it said, “is a direct affront on the independence of the legislature.”The PDP, at a press conference, addressed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja, yesterday, noted that “the constitutional provisions that guarantee independence of legislature should not be breached,” adding that the sovereignty of the people resides in the National Assembly and must be allowed to prevail.
It would be recalled that the PDP, on Thursday, announced its collaboration with the Labour Party (LP) and other opposition parties to support common candidates in the National Assembly leadership election scheduled to hold on Tuesday.
“The PDP leadership is working together with our members-elect and opposition parties in the two chambers”
“Irrespective of the ongoing claims in the media, I want to inform you that the PDP has a clear direction, which we hold close to our chest. Our members are united in that direction and it will show on the floor of both Houses of the National Assembly on Tuesday,” the party said.
The PDP said that the provision of the constitution which, allowed Senators and members-elect to chose their leaders from among themselves are “the critical ingredient of constitutional democracy, independence of the legislature and principle of Separation of Powers “
“Since the PDP made its position known, feelers from public discourse indicated that some elements in the APC have become agitated and resorted to plots to influence the emergence of the leadership of the National Assembly outside the floor,” the party disclosed.
The opposition party further allegedthat “Information at our disposal reveals attempt by such APC elements to intimidate, harass and threaten lawmakers-elect with the view to influencing the emergence of the leadership of the National Assembly.”
“Reports in the public space indicates plots to arrest individuals, who are considered to be strong proponents of the independence of the legislature and the right of members-elect to elect their leadership” it further alleged.
The PDP noted that “the independence of the legislature is a prerequisite for a virile democracy and therefore insists that the members-elect in both houses must be allowed to elect their leadership.”
“The national assembly is the symbol of the sovereignty of the people in a participatory Democracy. The people exercise such sovereignty through the choices made by their elected representatives on the floor of the National Assembly.
Fundamental to this sovereignty is the choice of the presiding officers of the National Assembly, which must not be appropriated by any group of individuals. Such will amount to a dethronement of the sovereignty of the people.”
The PDP charged the lawmakers-elect to remain steadfast in their resolve and continue to keep in mind that Nigerians expect them to assert their independence in the election of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
