Renewed Hope Professionals, a socio-political organisation within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has criticised the National Working Committee of the party and President-elect, Bola Tinubu, for selecting candidates for the 10th National Assembly leadership. The NWC had announced Tajudeen Abass and Godswill Akpabio as consensus candidates for Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate President respectively, but the RHP has stated that this appointment of leaders was a violation of Section 50 Sub-section 1b of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The coordinator of the RHP, Kinu Kabirwa, has called on the President-elect to nullify this imposition and allow for a free level playing field for members of the 10th National Assembly to decide on their leaders. According to him, “Democracy is now under serious threat with this imposition concocted by the outgoing Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila and the NWC to further compound the grave political situation in Nigeria.”
RHP has also questioned the selection process used to arrive at Abass, as his state delivered just four Representatives. Kabirwa asked if competence, equity, and fairness were considered during the selection process or if it was just an outright imposition. RHP urged leaders to address these concerns before they develop into an even bigger problem that could harm Nigeria’s shaky democracy.
Furthermore, the professional group also expressed worry about the zoning of the position of Deputy Senate President to the North West, meaning the region would control two powerful positions in the next political dispensation.
In conclusion, RHP has pleaded with APC leaders to look into these matters as soon as possible to avoid creating an unwarranted war zone over the personal interests of a few disgruntled people in the party.
