NASS Poll: We Overcame Intimidation — Ningi
- Says it’s victory for legislative democracy
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Former Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi has expressed happiness that Senators-elect successfully fought against intimidation and blackmail to promote democracy and legislative independence in choosing their presiding officers for the 10th National Assembly.
Senator Ningi, who was the Head of Media for Senator Abdul Aziz Yari Campaign Organisation, said democracy triumphed as they braved all odds to present and push their candidate forward in the Senate presidency race.
The lawmaker, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s platform, however described the election as free and fair without the much-anticipated drama.
Following the events that preceded the Senate Leadership contest, he said; “We refused to be intimidated by any enforcement and imposition and that is why we said there must be an election and those who came up with the idea of ruling party and the sitting government had the day, we have no problem.
“The election was free and fair without the much-anticipated drama. To be honest, I was expecting it to be so. That is what makes the institution of the Senate different.
“The animosity, the fear of what happened in the last two days completely vanished. You go into the hall and you see how people are embracing themselves and that is parliament and that is democracy.
“The position I took was not the position of my party but that of the minority caucus and you could see not all of us actually voted on the same page.”
Offering further insights on what transpired to affect the electoral outcome against the Yari’s camp, Senator Ningi said; “Some people actually went to negotiate, and that is parliament. I believe in six months or so we are going to bind together by putting the nation first.”
Senate Election Deepens Democracy — Izunaso
Senator Osita Izunaso, who initially aspired to lead the 10th Senate before backing down, described the emergence of Senator Goodwill Akpabio and Senator Jibrin Barau as the President and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate respectively, as deepening democracy in the country.
Reacting to the electoral process that saw him throwing in the towel midstream, Izunaso said, “I feel happy that members of the 10th Senate have made their choices in electing the President and Deputy President.”
“I think from there, we can hit the ground running because a lot is expected from us by Nigerians”, the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing APC, Imo West Senatorial district posited.
