Stakeholder and civil society organisations in the north who attended a colloquium organised on Thursday by the Democratic Watch Initiative (DWI) in Kaduna, have asked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop imposing leaders on the National Assembly.
In a communique issued on Sunday in Kaduna, the stakeholders noted that “the current attempt to impose leaders on people of maturity, and proven experience elected to represent their various constituencies in 10th National Assembly, amounts to an encroachment on the sanctity of the legislature.
The communique jointly signed by Nasiru Danbatta (Convener of DWI) and Muhammad Bello said, “The meeting wondered why the leadership of the APC, itself a product of democratic election and which subjected its presidential ticket contest to elections, should now be the same party attempting to manipulate the system to one of selection and imposition.
“The colloquium, therefore, condemned the stubborn insistence on the resort to old tactics of imposing leaders on institutions as important as the National Assembly by the APC National Working Committee of the under its chairman, Abdullahi Adamu.”
The communique said a leadership of the National Assembly that is independently and willingly produced by the members for themselves, would douse all regional tension and foster strong understanding and cooperation among the lawmakers.
The communique encouraged all those contesting for the various positions, from whatever region, religion or zone, not to relent in their desire to contest and insist on levelled playing grounds.
“We insist in this regard, that Abdul-Azeez Yari and all other contestants to the Senate Presidency be given their fair constitutional right to franchise alongside others from the Southern part of the country.
“Abbas Tajudeen, Betara, all candidates for the House of Representatives Speakership from the North, should also be encouraged to subject their aspirations to voting.
“We however caution that the capacity, character and competence should take priority above every other consideration during the voting process and call the candidates that lose to concede honourably and cooperate with those that win in order to make progress.
“The colloquium finally resolved to call the attention of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be vigilant as to the political opportunists that surround him with the intent of forming another cabal who are behind this scheme, aiming to pitch him against his traditional political friends and sections of the country.
“We implore the President-elect to reclaim the people’s confidence in his untainted democratic credentials and commitment to entrenching sustainable democracy, restoring the glory of governance, reclaiming the sanctity of constitutionalism and respect for rule of law by coming out openly to renounce any purported annointment of preferred candidates.”
