Election Reordering: Junaid Slams ‘Shameless, Self-serving’ NASS Members

Junaid Mohamned, a lawmaker in the Second Republic, has described members of the National Assembly as “shameless” and self-serving over their bid to reorder the sequence of the 2019 general elections.

Recall that both the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives have agreed to reorder INEC’s order of the 2019 elections so that the National Assembly election comes first before gubernatorial, state assembly, presidential elections.

But speaking on the matter in an interview with PUNCH, Junaid said NASS members “only care about returning to their offices” and not about the people.

He said, “My understanding of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and other subsidiary legislations – including the enabling Act of INEC, nothing compels INEC to obey the National Assembly or the Presidency when it comes to fixing the sequence of any election. So, frankly speaking, those in the National Assembly are simply shamelessly seeking for what they want; they don’t care about the people. They only care about returning to their offices untainted by the lack of popularity or the scandals that have been the hallmark of their existence.

“The thing to do is to refer the matter the Supreme Court for interpretation, otherwise anyone, who has an ambition to contest the next elections should stand by the stipulation of INEC with regards to the sequencing which INEC has since announced.

“The noise coming from the National Assembly over the issue should be treated with the contemptuous disregard it deserves. These people have brought so much shame to the institution of the National Assembly. They have brought so much disgrace to the constitution; so much disgrace to the democratic system that sometimes, I begin to wonder what shameless sort of people they are. Haven’t they done enough to discredit themselves and democracy?

“As far as I am concerned, they can’t succeed in this matter. Imagine that somehow, they can force the hand of the executive on anything, even if the Constitution gives them the power and they believe they can micro-manage the country, then we are heading for anarchy. These people don’t know what they are talking about. They are only shamelessly insisting on powers which have not been stipulated in the constitution for them and no law has given them such powers. I am really disgusted with their behaviour lately.

“If they have nothing else to discuss, especially pertinent things like their salaries and allowances, the corruption, which they call constituency allowance and projects and the money they openly demand from ministries departments and agencies of government for passing the budget which is their principal job, then frankly speaking, we are heading nowhere.

“I don’t know if something will come and clear their heads because they are becoming such a terrible nuisance, a national and international disgrace. Don’t forget, quite a number of them have had and are still having brushes with the law for criminal offences. Some of them are still facing trial before courts of competent jurisdiction and they are on bail. I have never heard of a society where people on bail still collect salaries to the tune of over N14 million a month in addition to other allowances.

“On top of that, they nominate projects to be done and they get the offers and the money paid into their bank accounts. This is a disgrace, People with this low moral standing have no right to take us for a ride the way they are trying to do.”