Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said its elected senators and members of the House of Representatives are constitutionally eligible and can seek election into any presiding office of both chambers of the National Assembly.
The PDP, in a statement on Tuesday, said the various leadership positions in the National Assembly were not the exclusive preserves of any political party, but a constitutional right of every elected lawmaker in both chambers.
This comes in reaction to a statement made on Monday night by the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, that the party would use its majority in both chambers to secure strategic offices in the National Assembly.
The PDP referred the ruling APC to Sections 50 and 92 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which make provisions for the freedom of all elected lawmakers to vie for the various offices without limitations.
The party added: “President Buhari and Oshiomhole should wake up to the fact that the National Assembly belongs to no political party but to all Nigerians, who exercise their control through their elected representatives.
“The PDP, therefore, does not only have a constitutional say in the process of the emergence of the leadership of the 9th National Assembly, but will, as a matter of constitutional right, field candidates into presiding offices of both chambers, if need be.
“The PDP therefore cautions President Buhari, Oshiomhole and the APC to respect the independence of the legislature, end their imposition plot and sowing of seeds of discord among the lawmakers, as such is directly against our overall national interest.”
