The Deputy Director-General of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Dino Melaye, has stated that an administration led by Atiku Abubakar would not interfere in the selection of the Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Melaye said the party would allow lawmakers to choose their leaders without interference, stressing that the ADC was committed to democratic values and an independent National Assembly.
He made this known on Monday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he responded to questions about the oversight measures the ADC would introduce to monitor government payments, fund disbursements and beneficiaries.
“To start with, an Atiku presidency will not determine who is going to be the Senate president, the president of the Senate, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives,” he said.
“Atiku is a Democrat. ADC is a very democratic political party. So we are going to allow the people to elect their leaders.”
The former senator argued that allowing lawmakers to elect their leaders would strengthen legislative independence and improve the National Assembly’s ability to scrutinise the executive arm of government.
“And I told you that wherever you have the members electing their leaders, there is some modicum of independence,” he said.
“So to start with, the ADC will make sure that the National Assembly is truly independent, and if the National Assembly is truly independent, that will drive their oversight functions over the Executive.”
Addressing questions about how government expenditure would be monitored, Melaye said relevant National Assembly committees would be empowered to summon government officials and scrutinise public spending.
He specifically mentioned the Committees on Establishment, Finance, and Budget and Planning as possible avenues for investigating expenditure and ensuring accountability.
“The Committee on Establishment is responsible for questioning this type of spenders because they have direct oversight function over the State House. The committee on finance is there. The committee on budget and planning is there,” Melaye said.
“So you can use any of these committees at least to ask questions.”