The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has warned the All Progressives Congress, APC, to desist from exerting an overbearing influence over who leads the 8th National Assembly, warning that leadership of the legislature should not be a party affair.
This followed the straw elections conducted on Saturday by the party to pave way for sole candidates for Senate Presidency and Speakership of the next parliament which has sparked controversy within the party and the polity.
The students’ body in a statement issued yesterday by its president, Comrade Tijani Usman, explained that the party’s interest in choosing who becomes Senate President and Speaker without allowing the legislators to decide those with impeccable credentials to lead was not a good omen for the ‘change’ mantra.
Insisting that the party should allow lawmakers choose their leaders in a democratic manner, NANS asserted that the seeming disagreement was a sign that if the differences amongst the APC legislators were not quickly resolved democratically, the party might be distracted from the start in delivering on its campaign promises.
According to the statement, “Nigerians are in a hurry to witness the change promised by the APC, and it should not allow itself to be entangled in issues that do not portend well for the polity.
“The party must desist forthwith trying to have overbearing influence on legislature including choosing its leaders. Let Senators and Members be allowed to elect their leaders in a free and transparent process”.
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