The Next Senate Assembly: Ending Executive Interference in the Election of the Senate President
One of the reasons why the 9th and 10th Senate Assemblies fell so badly can be attributed to the undue influence of the Executive in the election process of the Senate President.
As long as the Executive continues to influence the emergence of Senate leadership, the Legislature will not function optimally.
I sincerely hope that the next Senate Assembly will not perform worse than the current one, given the reported efforts of Senator Hope Uzodimma to succeed Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Sincerely speaking, I have nothing against Senator Hope Uzodimma or his ambition to become the next Senate President.
However, he does not appear to be someone who would strongly uphold the independence of the Senate.
Again, the Executive must not be allowed to influence the election of the next Senate President. That practice is undermining our democracy and weakening the independence of the Legislature.
We can recall with nostalgia how the 8th Senate Assembly, under the leadership of Dr. Bukola Saraki, performed and left a good legacy that is yet to be surpassed by the 9th and 10th Senate Assemblies.
Back then, the Executive and the national leadership of the APC preferred Senator Ahmad Lawan, believing he would be more subservient to President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, against all odds, Dr. Bukola Saraki emerged as Senate President, and his performance is a testament to why the Executive should not be allowed to determine Senate leadership.
As we prepare for the upcoming general election, I sincerely hope that Nigerians will elect more competent representatives to the National Assembly.