Dino Melaye says Atiku would not dictate National Assembly leadership, promising lawmakers freedom to elect the Senate President and Speaker
Dino Melaye, Deputy Director-General of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, has said a government led by Atiku Abubakar would not interfere in the election of the Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives if the party wins the 2027 presidential election.
Also read:Dickson Accuses APC of Setbacks Since 2015
Melaye said the ADC would allow members of the National Assembly to choose their presiding officers, arguing that the approach would strengthen legislative independence and democratic governance.
He made the remarks during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, while responding to questions about the party’s proposed oversight mechanisms for monitoring government payments, fund releases 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 lawmaker argued that allowing legislators to elect their leaders without presidential interference would give the National Assembly greater independence in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
“And I told you that wherever you have the members electing their leaders, there is some modicum of independence,” he said.
Melaye added that an independent legislature would be better placed to scrutinise the executive arm of government and hold public officials accountable.
“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,” he said.
On the monitoring of government expenditure, Melaye said relevant National Assembly committees would be empowered to question officials and examine how public funds were allocated and spent.
He identified the Committees on Establishment, Finance, and Budget and Planning as possible channels for investigating government spending and demanding explanations from public officials.
“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,” he said.
“So you can use any of these committees at least to ask questions.”
Also read:Dickson Accuses APC of Setbacks Since 2015
Melaye’s comments form part of the ADC campaign’s stated position on legislative independence and accountability ahead of the 2027 general election.
