By Nelson Ogbu
Former Senate President and National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has warned that Nigerian legislators who lack strong grassroots support often become political hostages in the hands of state governors.
Mark made this assertion while chairing the public presentation of the book The Burden of Legislators in Nigeria at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, where he offered a frank assessment of the imbalance of power between the executive and legislative arms of government.
According to him, although the legislature remained the backbone of democracy, it is also the most vulnerable arm of government, constantly facing pressure from governors, political parties, the judiciary, the electorate and internal institutional weaknesses.
He explained that governors, as de facto leaders of party structures in their states, wield enormous influence over lawmakers. He warned that a displeased governor could easily deny a legislator a party ticket or use state machinery to frustrate opposition lawmakers.
“Once you are elected, the problem becomes compounded,” Mark said, noting that many legislators operate under constant fear due to governors’ control of party and political structures.
However, he stressed that the situation can be reversed if lawmakers build strong grassroots support. According to him, legislators who are firmly rooted in their constituencies can shift the power balance in their favour.
“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.
Mark added that this belief informed his decision to pursue a legislative career, not for glamour, but because of its central role in sustaining democracy. He urged Nigerians to be patient with lawmakers, explaining that many of their challenges stem from weak grassroots governance and poor service delivery.
The author of the book, Senator Effiong Bob, said the memoir served as a practical guide for serving and aspiring legislators, outlining the path to parliament, the realities of legislative duties and the pressures of political representation.
He noted that the book addressed critical issues such as excessive constituency demands and the negative influence of political godfatherism, especially in candidate selection.
The event was attended by several 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.
