- A pro-democracy group is canvassing for the emergence of Senator Ahmad Lawan as the next Senate president
- The Sustainable Democracy Agenda (SUDA) urged senators-elect to support the bid of the current Senate leader
- The group said Lawan's emergence would ensure a united and vibrant Senate ready to face the onerous legislative works ahead
A pro-democracy group, Sustainable Democracy Agenda (SUDA), has urged senators-elect to support the bid of the current Senate leader; Senator Ahmad Lawan, to emerge as the next Senate president
The group’s convener, Malam Ibrahim Usman, made the appeal in a statement sent to journalists on Sunday, March 24.
Usman said Lawan's emergence would ensure a united and vibrant senate ready to face the onerous legislative works ahead.
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His words: “Our position on this is in line with the Senate. He has remained one of the most productive lawmakers since the beginning of the present dispensation in 1999.
“Our decision to drum support for the senator also followed painstaking investigation on his personal pedigree and integrity, both characteristics presently in short supply in our polity.
‘‘The distinguished senator is of highest academic qualification and has never been found wanting on the ground of fraud or breach of legislative processes.”
He emphasised that Lawan deserved to lead the next Senate after what he described as his exemplary performance as leader of the present Senate.
‘‘As keen observers of the polity, we watched with admiration how the senator exhibited maturity in his dealings with Senate President Bukola Saraki, while marshaling support for the agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari by remaining loyal to the majority All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We are therefore delighted to observe the composition of senators-elect that accompanied Sen. Lawan to his formal declaration,’’ he added.
Usman noted that the multi-party support currently enjoyed by Lawan was an indication that his leadership would bring about the much needed stability in the Senate.
According to him, this will lead to the realisation of the overall ‘Next Level’ agenda of President Buhari.
He, therefore, advised Lawan to reach out to all his colleagues including those aspiring for the same position, adding that national interest must be above all other considerations.
‘‘Senator Lawan, as the front runner in the race, should close ranks with all other senators to ensure a smooth inaugural sitting of the 9th Senate, which would be crucial to the overall achievement of the incoming Senate,” he advised.
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Meanwhile, the APC has said it will ensure that the party’s decisions are respected by members in electing the principal officers of the 9th National Assembly.
The ruling party's stance was made known by the national publicity secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu, who noted that nlike what happened during its assumption of power in 2015, APC would not allow the minority party, the Peoples Democratic Party, to interfere in choosing those who emerge leaders of both chambers of the National Assembly.
He said that the party would apply the principle of party supremacy in handling the emergence of new leadership of the incoming National Assembly.
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