The All Progressives Grand Alliance says politics should not be a full-time career, arguing that professionals outside government are more likely to promote accountable governance.
APGA National Chairman, Sly Ezeokenwa, stated this during a media interaction on Thursday in Lagos while outlining the party’s philosophy and leadership approach.
Ezeokenwa said the party encouraged officials to maintain professional careers outside politics to discourage corruption and the monetisation of political processes.
According to him, the party’s philosophy, championed by its national leader, promotes productive engagement among members and discourages dependency on political office.
“In APGA, we try to develop a model of politics that recognises that politics is not a business.
“People should build careers, and if you are a party officer, you should maintain meaningful professional engagement.
“If you are not productively engaged, that is what leads to vices such as trading nomination platforms for money.
“Even as national chairman, I still go to court because election petitions are part of my professional practice,” Ezeokenwa said.
Addressing debates on the Electoral Act, he said legislation was enacted collectively by lawmakers and should not be blamed on a single political party.
He noted that criticism directed at one party ignored the legislative process in a democratic system.
“If the National Assembly enacts a law, you don’t need to say ‘I opposed it’ or ‘I supported it.’
“Like we always say in democracy, the minority will have their say, but the majority will have their way.
“It is not an act of APC members of the National Assembly; it is an act of the National Assembly.
“Once the president assents to it, it becomes a law binding on all citizens,” Ezeokenwa said.
