National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (North‑West), Malam Salihu Lukman, called on the party’s leadership on Thursday to adopt an ethical code of conduct that would automatically disqualify any lawmaker who attempts to bribe his way into becoming the next Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives. Lukman’s appeal follows reports that members of the National Assembly eyeing leadership positions have turned the APC national secretariat into a warehouse, where several trucks have been off‑loading bags of rice and sugar for party leaders and National Working Committee (NWC) members over the past week.
Describing the unsolicited gifts as “unethical and disrespectful,” the Kaduna politician said the gesture reeks of corruption and appears to be a deliberate attempt to bribe decision‑makers in the party. He noted that, although some senators and House members have lobbied colleagues and party stakeholders with impunity, the ruling party has not yet zoned any of the principal offices to any region. He acknowledged that discussions on zoning are ongoing among relevant decision‑makers.
“I want to appeal to our leaders and my colleagues in the NWC. We must take every step to stop such unethical conduct,” Lukman said. “It is worrying that aspirants for National Assembly leadership are reaching out to NWC members in an unethical way. At least two senators from my zone (North‑West) who are vying for Senate President have sent bags of rice and sugar, and a House member from the same zone aspiring to be Speaker has also sent bags of rice to individual members.”
He added, “We have not yet decided on zoning for party offices, and it is wrong for leaders at this level to engage in unethical conduct. I have long advocated for a code of conduct within the APC. It is no accident that the responsibility of governing this country has been placed in our hands, nor that we find ourselves in the NWC. Everything must be done to sanitise the party, and anyone engaged in unethical conduct should be disqualified from contesting the positions they aspire to. This is the only way we can begin to cleanse politics in this country.”
Lukman urged journalists to help raise the alarm, calling on all aspiring National Assembly leaders to respect the party and the NWC. “It is disrespectful to think we can be bribed,” he said. “Our leaders, especially the chairman and the national secretary, should rise to the occasion and stop this unethical practice. If they do not give permission, I see no reason why bags of rice and sugar should enter the Secretariat and be distributed.”
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