Yusuf, Okeke Caution Tinubu, Governors Over Abbas’ Re-election Call

Professor Usman Yusuf has described as a “dangerous precedent” the call by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, urging Bola Ahmed Tinubu and state governors to support the re-election of lawmakers, warning that it undermines democratic choice and electoral accountability.

Yusuf, a former Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that the proposal is unnecessary and could deny voters the opportunity to freely elect representatives capable of improving their lives.

The Speaker had made the appeal during the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at Eagle Square in Abuja on Friday night. Abbas argued that the high turnover of lawmakers has imposed costs on governance, lawmaking, and public resources due to constant training and retraining of new legislators.

He emphasized the need for continuity, stating that frequent changes in the legislature lead to loss of experience, weakened institutional memory, and disrupted momentum in governance.

“Mr. President, Your Excellencies, our Governors, I make this appeal with urgency. As we commit to continuity at the executive level, we must also secure stability within the legislature.

The high turnover of Senators and Members over the years has come at a cost to governance, to lawmaking, and to public resources spent on constant training and retraining. Experience is lost. Institutional memory is weakened. Momentum is broken.

We cannot continue to start every cycle afresh and expect consistent progress. The legislature is not separate from this journey. It is a partner in it. We legislate for the same reforms. We oversee the same programmes. We defend the same national interest.

I therefore urge deliberate efforts to support the return of committed and performing legislators, so that together, the executive and the legislature can sustain this path and complete the work we have begun.”

However, Yusuf dismissed the justification, describing the appeal as self-serving and contrary to democratic principles.

Also weighing in, Christian Okeke criticized the position, saying it reflects the parochial and self-preserving tendencies of many Nigerian politicians.

According to Okeke, elementary knowledge of government shows that legislators are elected by their constituents, to whom they must give account of their stewardship.

He stressed that voters periodically assess the performance of their representatives and determine their fate during elections.

Okeke questioned the rationale behind seeking support from the president and governors, asking whether they are members of lawmakers’ constituencies.

He warned that such calls could be interpreted as an attempt to influence electoral outcomes outside constitutional provisions.

He added that democracy thrives on the free choice of the people, urging lawmakers to focus on delivering quality representation rather than seeking external backing for re-election.

Okeke further cautioned against the “sit-tight syndrome,” noting that it undermines political development and democratic growth in Nigeria.

He called on members of the House of Representatives to promote democratic values and avoid actions that could hinder the country’s progress.