The main opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate and arrest some lawmakers-elect who are championing the cause of legislative independence.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made this claim at a press conference held at the party’s National Secretariat on Saturday.
Ologunagba said the PDP has credible information that some elements within the APC are planning to harass and threaten lawmakers-elect who are not in support of the APC’s preferred candidates for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.
He said the APC is jittery because the PDP has made its position clear that it will not interfere in the election of the presiding officers of both chambers of the National Assembly, which is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
He said the PDP believes in democracy and respects the principle of separation of powers, which entails that the legislature should be free from any external influence or manipulation.
He said, “There are reports of harassment to arrest those people who are considered to be strong proponents of the independence of the legislature and who are at the forefront of the need to respect those standing rules that provide that members-elect should elect their own leadership without any external influence.
“We have these reported actions and plots to arrest such individuals. We as a party that believes in democracy, and that had the privilege of midwifing this democracy for 16 years recognises the fact that the legislature is an ingredient that is very important and key to the sustenance of democracy. So, we need to raise an alarm to bring to the fore where the situation is at the moment.”
Ologunagba said the PDP will continue to stand for the independence of the legislature and urged its members-elect to remain steadfast and law-abiding.
He also called on them to remember that they are representing their constituents and Nigerians at large, who expect them to uphold the sanctity and sovereignty of the parliament.
He added: “The legislature remains the symbol of democracy in a constitutional democracy in the sense that it is regarded as the people’s house where people are elected from all the constituencies in the country as a component of the country to speak for their people.
“We need to emphasise the need for members-elect to remain steadfast and ensure that they abide by law as per the standing rules of both houses and elect from among themselves their own leadership without undue influence.
“We know that the independence of the legislature is a prerequisite for a virile democracy and therefore, our party insists that members-elect in both Houses must be allowed to elect their own leadership.
“It is important to say that National Assembly is a symbol of sovereignty of Nigeria. The sovereignty resides in National Assembly. How do we express that? It is by electing people to represent you at parliament in both houses and through them you can speak. Whatever decision they are taking is on behalf of Nigerians.”
