A group under the aegis of Renewed Hope Professionals has urged President-elect Bola Tinubu to maintain neutrality in the forthcoming leadership race for the 10th National Assembly.

“To avoid a replay of 2015 which slowed down governance for four years, the president-elect must tread cautiously for a smooth ride in the incoming administration,” the group warned.

On Sunday, in a statement by its coordinator, Kinu Kabirwa, the group said lawmakers-elect should be allowed to choose their leaders. The group said it was disturbed by allegations of moves designed to anoint aspirants for key positions in the 10th Assembly.

It explained that the cornerstone of a healthy democracy is the freedom of choice, recalling that imposition of candidates by those in authority has led to a legitimacy crisis in the country since the return to democracy in 1999.

The group mentioned that as an advocate for competitive democracy, Mr Tinubu must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to a level playing field for all contestants.

“The parliament operates under the dictum of first among equals and any attempt to foist any form of leadership on members may be counterproductive. The All Progressives Congress (APC), under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, set a powerful example in the 2023 party primaries,” the group noted. “The world saw the beauty of progressive politics when Buhari insisted on a level playing field for all contestants, and we must not backtrack on this laudable legacy.”

It pointed out that the president-elect “must be seen as a committed democrat who respects the doctrine of separation of powers, the very hallmark of the presidential system of government and a fundamental aspect of most democratic systems” and should “avoid interfering with the workings of the National Assembly to maintain this balance.”

The group added that the executive must remain neutral to ensure the National Assembly operates independently and free from external influence.

“If the president-elect takes sides in the leadership of the National Assembly, it could compromise the ability of lawmakers to carry out their duties. This could undermine the system of checks and balances, robbing the incoming administration of legitimacy and the healing that the nation so badly needs,” it stressed.

(NAN)