Akpabio backs re-election tickets for experienced lawmakers

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has cautioned political parties not to deny experienced lawmakers tickets for re-election, arguing that such decisions can weaken democratic governance and deprive the National Assembly of valuable institutional knowledge. Speaking on Thursday, Akpabio emphasized that political parties should prioritize competence, experience, and contributions to lawmaking when selecting candidates for subsequent elections.

He cited the importance of retaining lawmakers with decades of experience, drawing parallels to the United States, where some lawmakers have served for 51 years. Akpabio stressed that the Senate should not be treated as a platform for political patronage and that decisions on legislative representation should be guided by competence, experience, and commitment to national development.