The Democracy Watch Initiative, a non-governmental organisation has called for a free environment for the exercise of franchise as the only solution to the pervasive communal distrust that is more accentuated in the North as regards to the 10th National Assembly.
The National Coordinator, Muhammed Sanusi Umar while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday said there is need to forestall the drift toward greater regional distrust in Nigeria, breach of constitutional democracy, due process of leadership succession through elections and rancour in the 10th National Assembly.
The group urged the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to fall for the trap of a brewing cabal out to reverse the populist tendencies of your government by whatever means and tactics.
“Firstly, we wish to invite your attention, as a renowned committed democrat, to the necessity for inclusive participation, respect for statutory autonomy of such organs of government as the legislature as the only basis for sustainable constitutional democracy.
“Constitutional democracy as the antithesis of arbitrary rule, allows all citizens, rather than favoured individuals or groups, have the right and opportunity to participate.
“This informs our conviction that only a leadership of the National Assembly independently and willingly produced by the members themselves, for themselves, can douse the rising regional tensions and foster strong understanding and cooperation among the elected members.
“We are of the view therefore, that the current attempt to impose leaders on people of undoubtful maturity, and proven experience, elected to represent their various constituencies in the incoming 10th National Assembly, amounts to an encroachment on the sanctity of the legislature, subversion of popular will and a negation of the democratic principle of separation of powers between executive, the legislature and the Judiciary.
“We find it curious that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, itself a product of democratic election and which subjected its presidential ticket contest to elections, should now be the same party attempting to manipulate the system to one of selection and imposition.
“We believe a free election of leaders of the National Assembly by its own members would put to end the already brewing concerns of marginalization and fear of domination of other geopolitical zones in the North by others.
“We submit therefore that if North despite the immense contribution it made towards the victory of the APC at the Presidential election at the expense of fellow candidates from the region does not deserve to be rewarded with the position it rightly demands in the National Assembly, there should be no justification to deny the the right to stand election to the same post,” He said.