https://www.I Went Through The Toughest Campaign But Won – Tinubu nline.ng/2023/04/27/10th-nass-leadership-tinubu-apc-may-opt-for-consensus-senate-president-speaker/

House of Reps Speakership: Tinubu To Decide The Fate of Betara, Wase, Jaji

by Victor Ndubuisi
A+A-
Reset

As signs surfaced that the campaign for the speakership of the 10th House of Representatives is now a three-horse race, it is anticipated that President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will finally select which zone will provide leadership positions in the 10th National Assembly.

Newsmen reports that Tinubu is expected back in the country today after spending over a month in France after the gubernatorial election.

According to reports, candidates for the 10th Assembly Speaker are lining up behind the trio of Aliyu Betara, the current chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Ahmed Wase, the current deputy speaker, and Aminu Sani Jaji, the former chairman of the House Committee on Intelligence.

NASS Leadership: Opposition Reps-elect Meet As PDP Eyes Speakership Position

Lawmakers reportedly in the race include Abdulraheem Olawuyi, who represents Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in Kwara State; lawmaker representing Mallammadori/Kaugama Federal Constituency in Jigawa State and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Abubakar Yalleman; embattled House Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi; and, Chairman, House Committee on Science Research Institutes, Olaide Akinremi.

Advertisement

Others are House Deputy Majority Leader Peter Akpatason; chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu; Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport, Tajudeen Abbas; and the lawmaker representing Onuimo and Okigwe federal constituency of Imo State, Miriam Onuoha.

Although no official zoning plan for the House speakership has been approved, a source in the All Progressives Congress (APC) national secretariat told Vanguard that some individuals within the party are putting a strong argument forward for Betara, who is from the Northeast.

10th NASS: PDP, LP, Other Opposition Move To Take Speakership

The source said: “No formal position has been taken, but discussions are intensely ongoing. So many things will happen after Ramadan and when the President-elect returns to Nigeria.

“However, there is a North West governor and one or two of his colleagues whose elements in the party hierarchy want the speakership zoned to the region, and this is why they have been the most virulent in insisting that in the Senate, those from the North West must not be allowed to contest. They do not want that to jeopardize their chances in the House.

“They contend that having first pushed for power shift, the North East was considered for the office of vice president to the detriment of the North West, and hence, they are now pushing that the speakership be given to the Northwest. But, from my standpoint, I can tell you that discussions are focused mainly on Betara, Wase, and Jaji.

“The argument against Betara is that he is from the same zone as the Vice President-elect, but some of us are saying that in the current dispensation, Speaker Gbajabiamila is also from the same zone as the incumbent Vice President. If it was right in 2019, it cannot suddenly be wrong in 2023.

Advertisement

10th NASS: We Will Contest For Speakership – Opposition Parties Declare

“By far one of the most ranking members of the House, Betara currently chairs the House Committee on Appropriations. That committee has the highest membership. He has about 150 committee members, whereas the highest is usually 35, and he takes care of all of them.

“One of the greatest challenges posed to Wase is by Gagdi, who is also from the same Plateau State. Gagdi would definitely split the votes with Wase in Plateau and, perhaps, Benue or Nasarawa states. This is one reason we are not keen on zoning it to the North Central, except one of them steps down.

Advertisement

“However, since Tinubu is expected back soon in the country, he will be the ultimate decider, even though in consultations with the party hierarchy.”

 

Follow us on Facebook

Advertisement

 

Post Disclaimer

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.

You may also like

Advertisement