The contenders vying for the position of Speaker in the 10th House of Representatives have joined forces to oppose the All Progressives Congress (APC) zoning arrangement.
During a meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, the aspirants reached a consensus to present a unified candidate from among themselves.
This development comes in response to the recent announcement by the APC’s National Working Committee on May 8, which involved the zoning of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions.
According to the party’s decision, the Speaker position was allocated to the North West with Rep. Tajudeen Abbas (APC-Kaduna) as the chosen candidate, while the Deputy Speaker slot was earmarked for the South East with Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) as the preferred candidate.
Hon. Aliyu Betara, one of the prominent contenders for the Speakership, accused the incumbent Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, of being responsible for the nomination of the allegedly unpopular Tajudeen Abbas.
Betara expressed surprise at Gbajabiamila’s selection, as he believed that himself, along with other leading aspirants such as Wase, Doguwa, and Gagdi, would have been more suitable choices.
He stated, “If today, the Deputy Speaker of the House is contesting, the Chairman of Appropriation is contesting, the Majority Leader is contesting, then who’s closer to the speaker? Gbajabiamila picked somebody that most members of the 9th Assembly do not know.”
Gagdi, another candidate for the Speakership, appeared on Channels TV on Tuesday and asserted that it should be the prerogative of the members to choose their leader. He also expressed his belief that it would be unfair for the party to neglect the North Central region, which contributed significantly to its electoral success.
In the meantime, several members-elect from opposition parties such as the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Labour Party, APGA, and ADC have thrown their support behind Betara’s candidacy.
During Betara’s official declaration event at Transcorp Hilton on May 8, numerous returning and new members attended, pledging their commitment to his cause.
At the declaration, Hon. Dickson Tarkigir, the campaign’s director general, urged the members-elect to recognize their shared responsibility over the next four years. He emphasized the importance of elevating the House of Representatives through effective representation, critical lawmaking, and oversight, resulting in measurable and tangible outcomes.
