The Labour Party (LP) yesterday condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the manner it is handling the leadership issue at the National Assembly. The crisis culminated in yesterday's disruption of proceedings at the House of Representatives.

National chairman of LP Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam said yesterday in Abuja that the leadership of the APC should respect the tenets of democracy playing out at the National Assembly and stop endangering democracy.

The Labour Party observed that since the APC took over the reins of government as the ruling party, it has been one crisis or the other at the National Assembly.

"We are disturbed, concerned and getting embarrassed that the image those claiming to be agents of change are giving Nigeria and Nigerians is portraying us in bad light before the international community.

"It is not in our character to be rowdy, violent and destructive, to the extent that Nigeria is at standstill position, crossroad and state of uncertainty, but what happened today (yesterday) in the House of Representatives was shameful and an eye sore. Because of lack of adequate planning, foresight, the issue of National Assembly leadership has been reduced to sectional and religious divide at the expense of political astuteness and responsible leadership," Abdulsalam said

While saying that the APC never planned to govern as it found itself in the present position unexpectedly, the Labour Party boss said it is not fair for the APC leadership to allow its selfishness to impair the change they promise and which Nigerians yearn for.

He pledged support to the leaders of the National Assembly, urging the APC leadership to accept the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House respectively, adding that opposition parties would work with them.

He said: "Did it not occur to the APC that since President Muhammadu Buhari sent a letter of proclamation to the Clerk of National Assembly and slated for 10 am and at the same time scheduled another meeting with his (APC) elected lawmakers coinciding with the National Assembly proclamation, that the PDP can exploit the situation being the master of game of deceit?

"What if the PDP had elected their own members that form quorum as leaders? It would definitely not be possible to sack them as the APC cannot get the two-third required by law to do that."