Senators proceed on recess for campaigns ahead of February 25 polls for the President and National Assembly. Lawan says the casualties of failed re-election bid by federal lawmakers have always been too heavy and too expensive for our country and for democracy in Nigeria
“It is our prayer and hope that those of us who are going to participate in the National Assembly elections in the Senate, that God Almighty would be on our side. This is because we need to have those who would provide institutional memory to be around.” – Ahmad Lawan, President of the Senate
The Senate has adjourned plenary to February 28 2023, to enable the lawmakers participate in campaigns for the general elections.
Making the announcement during Wednesday’s plenary, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said that the Senate would commence its recess from Wednesday to enable Senators to participate fully in the campaigns for their return or for their political parties.
“The elections of the National Assembly (members), together with that of the President, will take place on February 25th, 2023. It is our prayer and hope that those of us who are going to participate in the National Assembly elections in the Senate, that God Almighty would be on our side. This is because we need to have those who would provide institutional memory to be around.
The casualties have always been too heavy and too expensive for our country and for democracy in Nigeria. That is not to say that Nigerians should not have the way they want to elect their members of the National Assembly, but it pays to retain parliamentarians if they are doing their job well,” he said.
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This, Lawan said, would help the institution or the parliament to build and work for the people and for the country. He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct very free, fair and credible elections.
“This Senate and indeed the National Assembly has supported INEC to the teeth. Almost everything that was requested for INEC was approved here in the Assembly. We expect that INEC will be on top of its game,” he said, just as he urged the security agencies to ensure violent-free elections.
Nigerians should go about this elective period without any molestation or hindrance. No citizen should be barred from participating if such a citizen is lawfully to participate. That is, people should go and vote and, of course, do what is right to ensure that their votes count.“
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“For the rest of us who may not be running, we still have something to do to help the development of democracy. We have garnered a lot of experience working in the parliament and we still have a lot to offer.
When we come back on February 28, three days after the Presidential and National Assembly elections, our hope is that we come back here and review the situation that would have taken place, but we pray that what we review should all be on the positive side.
And for one legislative week, we will be in the chamber to March 1 before we will also go for the gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly campaigns and elections of March 11.”
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