.As Sen Orji Uzor Kalu says senators not rubber stamp of executive
IGNATIUS OKOROCHA, Abuja and CYRIL MBAH, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dashed the hopes of several decampees, especially National Assembly members, who reasoned that joining the ruling party will help them earn automatic tickets in the 2027 general elections to retain their positions.
The party on Tuesday advised those secretly nursing such hopes and high expectations to wake up to the reality that politics evolves better in a competitive environment.
In a statement signed by Barrister Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary, the All Progressives Congress said its attention has been drawn to a purported breaking news report tagged “APC Grants Automatic Tickets to All National Assembly Members” currently in viral circulation.
The APC described the report as fake and advised the publuc to disregard the misinformation in its entirety as it did not emanate from the party.
Morka urged all party members and the general public to disregard any other report of this nature stating that such reports usually emanate from “mischievous origin.”
The statement reads in full: “DISREGARD FAKE NEWS OF APC AUTOMATIC TICKETS FOR ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS”
“The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a purported Breaking News Report tagged “APC Grants Automatic Tickets to All National Assembly Members” in viral circulation.
“The report is FAKE NEWS and should be disregarded in its entirety as it did not emanate from our great Party.
“We urge all Party members and the general public to disregard the report as FAKE and of mischievous origin.
“Signed: Felix Morka, Esq, National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC).
.As Sen Orji Uzor Kalu says senators not rubber stamp of executive
However, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Governor of Abia State and current Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), has firmly rejected claims that the Nigerian Senate operates as a rubber stamp for the executive arm of government.
Speaking during a televised interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Senator Kalu responded to public criticism suggesting that the National Assembly lacks independence and fails to effectively scrutinize executive proposals.
“Do you work in the National Assembly? Do you know what it takes to make laws?” Kalu challenged the host, Seun Okinbaloye, emphasizing that every bill passed by the National Assembly undergoes due legislative process.
“There is no law that is passed at the National Assembly that did not take its course.”
The former Senate Chief Whip was particularly emphatic about the Tax Reform Bill, a key fiscal policy initiative of the Tinubu administration.
He cited the rigorous and prolonged legislative engagement that preceded its passage by the Senate as evidence of the Senate’s autonomy.
“How can you say we are rubber stamps when you saw how the Tax Bill was passed? Actually, the day we passed the bill, I went to Senator Akpabio’s house to congratulate him because it was a thorough job well done. Many people thought it would be passed immediately, but you saw how many months we took.”
The Tax Reform Bill, part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda, drew significant public attention and criticism when first introduced. Senator Kalu noted that despite initial tension, the Senate remained measured and thorough in its approach.
“When President Tinubu brought this Bill, it seemed like the heavens would fall. But as a legislature, we calmed everyone down and went to work.
“We scrutinised the bill clause by clause,” he said. “I never even thought it would be passed, but it was.
Addressing the broader perception that the legislature is complacent, Kalu stressed that behind the scenes, lawmakers are doing the hard work of oversight and policy scrutiny.
“What you people want to see is us fighting with the executive, but we are mature adults. For the interest of Nigeria, we have mechanisms to prevent fights. There are a lot of executive bills we rejected and sent back. We can not start telling you everything, we are matured.”
When asked whether he was concerned about the Senate’s negative public image, the seasoned lawmaker responded unequivocally:
“I am reporting to you that we are not rubber stamps. People might think what they want to think. But as for me, I’m not looking for money or anything, and I am not a rubber stamp. Most of the senators are not.”
On the economic challenges facing the nation, including mounting national debt and inflation, Senator Kalu urged patience, citing past periods of austerity and economic restructuring.
“There is always pain whenever you want to change from the old ways of doing things,” he said, adding that even he had had to scale back personally.
“I now fly commercial planes to empathise with my workers. My private jets are there. I can’t run them as usual because business is no longer as usual.”
Senator Kalu concluded by reaffirming his belief in President Tinubu’s reform agenda but noted that Nigeria’s recovery requires a collective effort.
“We are working even though the governors are working to reclaim our country. Nigerians are in pain, yes, but things will get better.”
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), Kalu remains a key player in bridging federal legislative efforts with the specific developmental needs of the South-East region.
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