AHEAD of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, has urged the newly elected lawmakers in the party to form an effective and constructive opposition.

Atiku said PDP lawmakers must oppose any attempt by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to make the legislature a rubber stamp.

He said this on Saturday, June 3, at a retreat organised for lawmakers-elect of the PDP in Bauchi State.

“Based on the results announced by INEC and pending the determination of the electoral challenges in the court, our members-elect are not the majority in the National Assembly.

“So, for the time being, they have to prepare to work as an effective, constructive opposition while also preparing for a possible role as the majority party when the cases are resolved,” he said.

Atiku in the same vein said the party’s lawmakers must show readiness to govern, describing the PDP as a government-in-waiting.

He urged members of the party to remain hopeful while awaiting the decision of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

“You’re representatives of the party and your constituents. Do not be tempted to abandon your party because of a temporary setback. In the end, the truth and good shall triumph over falsehood and evil,” the former Vice President said.

“Therefore, you must please remain resolute. Do not work in isolation from one another. You’re a team and should always work as a team to achieve meaningful results and also remain connected to your roots, your constituents and other stakeholders.

“Our democracy must endure; you can and you should help to make that happen. As you know, the PDP remains the only true political party that is owned by its members rather than by one or a handful of godfathers. No one member or group of members is bigger, better or more important than the party in the PDP.”

The 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 13.

According to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, the 10th National Assembly will be the most diverse, with the highest party representation since 1999.

In the Senate, the ruling APC won 57 seats, while the major opposition party, PDP, garnered 29 seats.

Other parties that will be represented in the 10th National Assembly are: All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) 1 seat; Labour Party (LP) 6; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 2; Social Democratic Party (SDP) 2; and Young Progressives Party (YPP) 1.

In the House of Representatives, APC won 162 seats; PDP 102; APGA 4; LP 34; NNPP 18; SDP 2; YPP 1; and African Democratic Congress (ADC) 2.

Many Nigerians regard the 9th National Assembly, led by Senate President Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, as a rubber stamp.

In addition to failing to carry out effective oversight on the activities of the executive, the 9th National Assembly approved all the loan requests presented by former President Muhammadu Buhari.