Press Release
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) condemns in totality the fracas which occurred on Tuesday, November 27th, 2018, when the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly was thrown in disarray over the battle for political supremacy between five sacked lawmakers who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the State Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel.
The crisis, which began with the defection of five house members from PDP to APC and their subsequent election of Nse Ntuen, representing Essien Udim Constituency, as the new Speaker of the House on the grounds that they lacked confidence in the ability of the present Speaker, Mr Oniofiok Luke, to lead the Assembly, shows that we have not yet attained democratic maturity.
It is disheartening that the speaker and the party were in the first instance unable to manage the defection process and engaged in claims and counter-claims of who is responsible for initiating the crisis. This is unhealthy for our democracy and has inadvertently caused a step-back in our quest for strong democratic structures.
CISLAC decries the use of thuggery in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and the importation of the old Sergeant-at-Arms to the Assembly which escalated the crisis that would have otherwise been managed.
CISLAC emphatically condemns these acts of tyranny against our internal democracy and urge that the interests of the people and rule of law prevail over party sentiments and individual aspirations.
We call on the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly members to focus on the job at hand, which is to serve the Akwa Ibom people; and we implore all state actors to put aside personal interests for the sake of the electorates whom they represent.
We, therefore, call on the citizens to insist on a country governed by the rule of law in order to have a society bound by equity and justice, not oppression.
CISLAC would also like to call on the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and other security agencies to remain non-political, neutral, objective and act in line with the Constitution as well as their enabling laws in its dealings with politicians and citizens, in order to maintain peace and stability as the country gears up to the 2019 elections.
CISLAC remains committed to supporting Legislative effectiveness, transparency and accountability to ensure that she fulfils her promises to the citizens of our great country.
