Denying Experienced Lawmakers Senate Tickets Weakens Nigeria’s Democracy — Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has cautioned political parties against denying experienced lawmakers tickets to return to the National Assembly, warning that such decisions could deprive the legislature of valuable experience and weaken democratic governance in Nigeria.

Akpabio said political parties should give greater consideration to the competence, experience and contributions of lawmakers when deciding who should represent their parties in subsequent elections.

He made the remarks while acknowledging the contributions of Professor Francis Faduyile, a former president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), whom he said had considerable experience and expertise to contribute to the Senate.

“It is not good for a senator to serve in the Senate for only one year and then leave. Political parties must take a closer look at their decisions, particularly when dealing with serious-minded individuals who can make meaningful contributions to legislation and national development,” Akpabio said.

He added that denying capable lawmakers opportunities to return to the legislature amounted to a loss of valuable institutional knowledge.

“Denying such individuals tickets deprives the legislature of their experience,” he said.

The Senate President stressed that the National Assembly should not be treated as a platform for political patronage but as an institution where experience, competence and commitment to national development should be prioritised.

“The Senate is not a place for sharing political largesse,” Akpabio declared.

He acknowledged that political decisions were often influenced by considerations within individual states but maintained that experienced lawmakers should be given opportunities to continue contributing to legislative development.

Akpabio cited his experience in Akwa Ibom State, where he said he had thanked the governor for supporting the return of three senators to the National Assembly.

According to him, retaining experienced lawmakers can help strengthen legislative institutions, improve the quality of debates and promote the development of laws that address the country’s challenges.

He said political parties needed to recognise that legislative experience was an important asset that should not be discarded without careful consideration.

To underscore the importance of legislative continuity, Akpabio cited the United States, where some lawmakers have served in the Senate for decades.

He referenced former US Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who served in the Senate for 51 years, and former President Joe Biden, who represented Delaware in the US Senate from 1973 to 2009.

“That is the kind of experience we are talking about,” Akpabio said.

He argued that long-serving lawmakers develop institutional knowledge and legislative expertise that can strengthen parliamentary proceedings and improve the quality of lawmaking.

Akpabio maintained that Nigeria should build a democratic system in which the legislature is recognised as a critical institution of governance rather than a place for political rewards.

“We must ensure that the legislature is firmly entrenched in Nigeria’s democratic system and is not treated as a place for political compensation,” he said.

Akpabio further emphasised that the effectiveness of government depended significantly on the quality of laws enacted by the National Assembly.

“It is a serious matter because the quality of our laws determines the quality of governance,” he said.

He questioned how Nigeria could achieve effective governance if lawmakers failed to enact legislation capable of addressing the needs and aspirations of citizens.

“If we do not make good laws, how can we ensure that Nigeria is properly governed? We must enact laws that genuinely improve the lives of Nigerians,” he added.

The Senate President urged lawmakers to remain committed to producing legislation that would strengthen democratic institutions, improve governance and deliver tangible benefits to citizens.

Akpabio also cited the recent Senate debate on the decriminalisation of suicide, which generated considerable discussion on social media, as evidence of growing public interest in the activities of the legislature.

He welcomed the public reaction, noting that it demonstrated that Nigerians were following parliamentary proceedings and engaging with issues being considered by their representatives.

The Senate President said such public attention should encourage lawmakers to improve the quality of their debates and ensure that legislative decisions reflected the public interest.

He urged senators to continue putting forward their best efforts in the discharge of their responsibilities.

“We must continue to put our best foot forward, deepen democracy through good laws and strengthen the legislature as a central institution of Nigerian democracy,” he said.

Akpabio congratulated senators on their legislative work and urged them to proceed to their respective committees to continue deliberations on pending matters.