2027: Don’t Allow External Actors Use Parliament to Advance Political Interests, Agbese Tells Lawmakers

Hon. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, has cautioned Nigerian lawmakers against being manipulated by external political forces seeking to advance their agendas through the parliament, particularly with the 2027 general elections on the horizon. Agbese issued this warning in response to recent demands from a group of lawmakers, under the banner of the Save Democracy Group, for the National Assembly to end its recess to address pressing national issues like insecurity and unpaid contractors.

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One cannot say the highly respected lawmakers are wrong but the timing is suspicious.

While acknowledging the validity of concerns regarding constituency projects and contractor payments, Agbese expressed suspicion about the timing of these demands. He suggested that lawmakers should be wary of "running errands for highly vested political interests outside the parliament," especially as the 2027 elections draw nearer. He emphasized that the timing of such calls, while lawmakers are on recess, raises questions about their true motivations.

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The 2027 elections are just by the corner and one must be careful not to be seen to be running errands for highly vested political interests outside the parliament.

Agbese also sought to dispel notions that the 10th National Assembly merely rubber-stamps executive proposals. He highlighted the parliament's initiative in developing people-centered legislation, pointing to the state police bills as an example that predates the executive's similar proposal. He framed the executive's recent introduction of a state police bill not as a usurpation of legislative power, but as an opportunity for harmonization between the executive and legislative branches.

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The idea is that contrary to the insinuation being created in some quarters that we pass every bill and motion from the executive, I want to clear the air that we are working ahead of the executive on bills that have a positive impact on the generality of people

According to Agbese, this collaborative approach aims to refine legislative proposals centrally before they are sent to state Houses of Assembly, thereby ensuring efficiency and preventing the waste of taxpayer resources. He stressed that the parliament is actively working on bills that positively impact Nigerians, asserting that the initiative for state police bills originated with the Parliament itself. The executive's involvement, he explained, is to ensure a unified and well-developed document, avoiding unnecessary back-and-forth processes.

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We have been on the state police bills for some time now. The initiative remains solely that of the Parliament.