Abubakar Yalleman, a different member of the House of Representatives, has entered the race for Speaker of the 10th National Assembly.
Yalleman is the deputy chairman of the House Committee on Defence and represents the Mallammadori/Kaugama Federal Constituency in Jigawa State.
The lawmaker noted that the positions that the lawmakers will run for will be determined by the National Assembly leadership zoning formula of the ruling All Progressives Congress, which has maintained its majority status in the Senate and the House.
He, however, urged the APC to zone the position of speaker to the North, saying it will further enhance fairness and balance of political offices in the country.
Yalleman noted that though zoning of political offices was not clearly stated in the 1999 Constitution, it is in line with the principle of federal character.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the lawmaker said, “I want to tell you that I will contest for the position of the Speaker of the 10th National Assembly, if the leadership of our party, the All Progressive Congress, zones it to the North-West geopolitical zone where I hail from.
“In respect of what I will do if I emerge as Speaker of the House of Representatives, I will carry everybody along irrespective of political parties, religion, ethnic and language differences. I will ensure harmony between the various arms of the government – the Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary.”
Yalleman said he was optimistic that the position would be zoned to either the North-Central or the North-West.
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The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is from the South-West, while the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, hails from the North-East.
Yalleman, while defending the interest of the North-West, noted that the zone has the highest number of registered voters, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, adding that voters from the area contributed to the victory of Tinubu at the presidential election held on February 25.
The lawmaker recalled that out of the seven states in the North-West, namely Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara, Tinubu only won in Jigawa and Zamfara states, while the APC candidate came second in the other states.
Yalleman stressed that in the North-West, Jigawa has not produced a speaker.
He recalled since 1999 the Speakers of the House were Salisu Buhari and Ghali Na’Abba from Kano; Aminu Masari from Katsina; and Aminu Tambuwal from Sokoto.
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