The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday in Abuja cautioned against intimidation as the 10th National Assembly elects its principal officers on June 13.

PDP’s national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, told a news conference that members of the National Assembly should be allowed to elect their leaders freely.

He said information at the disposal of the PDP indicated that there had been attempts to harass and threaten lawmakers-elect as to their choices of leaders of the National Assembly.

Mr Ologunagba emphasised the legislature’s independence and insisted that members must be allowed to elect their presiding officers.

“The National Assembly is the symbol of the people’s sovereignty in a democracy. The people exercise such sovereignty through choices made by their representatives on the floor of the National Assembly.

“Fundamental to this sovereignty is the choice of presiding officers, which must not be appropriated by any group or individuals.

“Such will amount to a dethronement of the sovereignty of the people,’’ Mr Ologunagba said.

He advised lawmakers-elect to assert their independence in the election of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He called on the members-elect to note that Nigerians reposed their trust in them to uphold the independence of the legislative arm of government in electing their leadership.

“As a party, we charge the lawmakers to remain steadfast in their resolve because we are conscious that the majority of them are resolved to defend the independence of the legislature.

“We call on them to keep in mind that Nigerians expect them to assert their independence in the election of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives,’’ Mr Ologunagba stressed.

(NAN)