ABUJA, Nigeria – Ahead of the June 13, 2023, inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of plotting to intimidate and arrest lawmakers-elect viewed as advocates for the independence of the legislature.
The PDP alleges this is an effort to sway the choice of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The party made this claim just 24 hours after it boasted that it would leverage the number of lawmakers elected under opposition party platforms to influence the leadership of both houses.
In a press conference at the PDP’s national secretariat on Saturday, June 10, 2023, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, stated that the ruling party had become jittery since the PDP declared its position on the leadership of the 10th federal parliament last week.
Ologunagba claimed, “Information at our disposal, which is verifiable and some of which we received from your reports, suggests that there are attempts by some APC elements to intimidate, harass and threaten lawmakers-elect with a view to influencing the outcome of the election on Tuesday on the floor of both houses.”
Ologunagba raised concerns over reported threats and potential arrests of those seen as strong proponents of legislative independence, who assert the need for the standing rules to be respected – rules that allow members-elect to elect their own leadership without external influence.
He further stressed the importance of the legislature in upholding democracy, calling it “the symbol of democracy in a constitutional democracy”.
According to Ologunagba, it is considered the people’s house, elected from constituencies across the country to represent the people’s interests.
