With the release of the Certificate of Return by the Independent National Election Commission, top parliamentarians have begun the campaign for the key offices, particularly the Speaker, ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on June 13. (INEC).
Although the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has yet to zone important offices in the legislature, President-elect Bola Tinubu, his vice, Kashim Shettima, the APC leadership, and National Assembly members-elect are set to meet in Abuja on Monday.
According to news reports, the meeting’s two-point agenda includes zoning of the National Assembly’s key posts and the March 18 gubernatorial and state assembly elections.
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Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia), Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Muktar Aliyu Betara (APC, Borno), Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara), and beleaguered Alhassan Ado Doguwa are among those apparently coveting the role of Speaker (APC, Kano).
Traditionally, the political party with the most legislators is supposed to form the majority caucus and generate the presiding officers, while the party with the second most MPs in the chamber produces the minority principal officers.
The primary officers, the heads of the majority and minority caucuses, are chosen based on the composition of the lower house. While the majority caucus will elect the majority leader, deputy majority leader, chief whip, and deputy whip, the minority caucus will elect the minority leader, the deputy minority leader, the minority whip, and the deputy minority whip.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) won 162 of the 360 House of Representatives seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 102. The Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) each received 34 and 18 seats, respectively, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) received four. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) each gained two seats, while the Young Progressive Party (YPP) got one.
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With the incumbent Speaker, Gbajabiamila, and Bola Tinubu both being from Lagos State, the present Speaker is unlikely to be re-elected to the 10th National Assembly.
According to reports, Gbajabiamila would rather take any other major role in Tinubu’s administration than return to the house as an ordinary member.
Remember that Gbajabiamila was noticeably absent from the distribution of Certificates of Return at the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja, fueling rumors that he was seeking to become Tinubu’s Chief of Staff.
It was learned that the geopolitical zones of the south-east and north-west are being heavily considered for the speaker job.
Those who argue for the North-west on the speaker’s position, on the other hand, argue that the Senate President should go to the South-east, emphasizing that the speaker’s position is sufficient to compensate the North-west for producing the most votes for the APC in the presidential and National Assembly elections.
Several members-elect from other zones, such as the north-central and northeast, are rumored to be interested in the role.
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Among Southeast MPs, Kalu (APC, Abia) is thought to be seriously rallying his colleagues to become speaker, while Hon. Idris Wase (APC, Plateau) is also vying for the top job from the North-central geographical zone.
Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara (APC, Borno) is also running for the office from the northeast geopolitical zone.
Hon. Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara) and Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano) are conspiring to replace Gbajabiamila from the North-West geopolitical zone.
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