According to former Senator Shehu Sani, the appointment of the Minority Leader position by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would result in the demise of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party in the National Assembly.
Vanguard Newspapars revealed Sani expressed concern over the indications that the APC intends to install a Minority Leader who would act as a puppet for the ruling party, thereby eliminating the effectiveness of the opposition in the National Assembly.
He highlighted that the responsibility of the main opposition has been compromised, leading to the prominence of the Labour Party as the primary opposition force. Sani emphasized the importance of maintaining the independence of the National Assembly and warned that if the APC monopolizes power, it would undermine the institution’s dignity.
In a parliamentary system, the role of the Minority Leader is akin to an alternative government. Sani argued that having a Minority Leader who genuinely fulfills the opposition’s role would be beneficial for the country.
In the 10th Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau emerged as Senate President and Deputy Senate President, respectively, while Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu were elected as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.
Akpabio secured victory in a tough battle against Senator Abdulaziz Yari, polling 63 votes to Yari’s 46 votes. In the House of Representatives, Abbas won by a significant margin, receiving votes from 353 out of the 359 lawmakers present, while his opponents, Idris Wase and Aminu Jaji, received three votes each.
