The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarm that eight All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are being used by the federal government to arm-twist and compel the National Assembly not to use its constitutional powers to veto the amended Electoral Bill.
Though he did not name the governors, Secondus said he had to alert the nation and the international community on the ongoing undemocratic act by the APC-led federal government because of its implication on the nation’s nascent democracy.
PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who stated this yesterday at a meeting with PDP Youth Leaders from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, said it is a dangerous precedence and dictatorial.
He insisted that said members of the NASS have the statutory responsibility to make laws for the benefit of the common man and not for the cabal and should therefore not be forced to do otherwise.
He said it is shocking President Muhammadu Buhari, who exercised his constitutional right to withhold assent to an amended act, would deploy the forces of government to compel lawmakers to act against their own constitutional responsibility.
“I urge the APC to allow the National Assembly to make its laws because they were elected to make laws.
We are not operating a military dictatorship.
This is not the first time the National Assembly amended the electoral law.
They have done so severally.
“Why is this case different? Eight governors of APC have been constituted to begin to move from door to door of members of National Assembly to cage them not to freely make laws for Nigeria.
We reject that move and we insist that that the will of Nigerians must be done.
The will of Nigerians must prevail”, he said.
It would be recalled that President Buhari on Monday withheld assent to the amended Electoral Act which sought to reorder the sequence of election against the order fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The NASS had amended INEC’s sequence by bringing forward the National Assembly, Governorship and Presidential election against starting with the Presidential Election and ending with the assembly election which was INEC’s option.
Meanwhile, the PDP has challenged Nigerian youth to rise up and change the system by kicking out the failed All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government, under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The party said unless the youth play vital role in the forthcoming general election the country would remain doom, stating that youth must participate actively in the nation’s political processes to ensure credible future for posterity.
PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who stated this at a meeting with PDP Youth Leaders from the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT, said any nation where its youth are not participating in the political development is doomed.
“PDP is coming out with a lot of programmes one of which is Generation Next.
This is to prepare the youths for the future leadership of our country and our party.
“The strength of the youThis the strength of the nation and you must take over the leadership of this party.
To do this, you must go to the grassroots and mobilise the youths to rescue this country because this country is in crisis.
