By Nelson Ogbu
Former Senate President and National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has declared that Nigerian legislators who lack strong grassroots support are political hostages in the hands of state governors.
Mark made the assertion while chairing the public presentation of the book The Burden of Legislators in Nigeria at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, where he delivered a blunt assessment of the power imbalance between the executive and the legislature in Nigeria’s democratic system.
According to him, the legislature, though the backbone of democracy, is the most vulnerable and most attacked arm of government, constantly under pressure from governors, political parties, the judiciary, the electorate and internal legislative weaknesses.
He said governors, as de facto leaders of party structures in the states, wield enormous influence over lawmakers, warning that at the slightest provocation, a governor can deny a legislator the party ticket or deploy state power to frustrate legislators who belong to opposition parties.
“Once you are elected, the problem becomes compounded,” Mark said, noting that many legislators operate in fear of governors who control party machinery and political structures.
However, he stressed that the situation is reversible. Mark argued that when a legislator is deeply rooted in his senatorial district with massive grassroots backing, the power dynamics change. “If you are strong in your constituency, instead of being at the mercy of your governor, the governor will be at your mercy,” he said.
The former Senate President explained that this conviction informed his decision to begin his political career in the legislature, not because it was glamorous, but because it remains the most important pillar of democracy. He urged Nigerians to exercise patience with lawmakers, noting that legislators are burdened with responsibilities that often arise from weak grassroots governance and failed service delivery.
Author of the book, Senator Effiong Bob, said the memoir is intended as a practical handbook for current and aspiring legislators, detailing the path to parliament, the realities of legislative work and the pressures of representation. He added that the book confronts key challenges such as excessive constituency demands and the damaging influence of political godfatherism, particularly in candidate selection.
The event attracted prominent political figures, including Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Enoh, and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. The book was reviewed by Prof. Maxwell Gidado, SAN, and published by Premium Times.
