Members-elect, including members of the House of Representatives, have rebelled in response to plans to elect Tajudeen Abass as speaker of the 10th Assembly, declaring that “they will not have candidates imposed on them by political parties.”
The 10th National Assembly’s members were recently informed by the speaker of the National Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila, that Tajudeen Abass’ opponent, Tajudeen Abass, may receive a directive from President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu ordering all candidates for speaker to withdraw from the race.
On Tuesday night, Gbajabiamila spoke to members and members-elect at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
He was, however, accompanied by Tajudeen Abass whom he says is the preferred choice of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, adding that Tinubu would prevail on other contestants to step-down for the candidate he has endorsed to become speaker.
However, this decision has caused discontent among lawmakers, as they described the move as undemocratic and would impede on the independence of the legislature, and promote the existence of a rubber stamp national assembly.
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According to them, we are united behind the choice of Muktar Betara because we believe he has the best credentials fit for the office of speaker and he also enjoys tremendous support from other lawmakers in the parliament.
Members that addressed the press after the meeting said they were unhappy with the manner with which Gbajabiamila is dealing with the issue, having also contested for the position of speaker three times in the past, against the principle of zoning.
The lawmakers committed to support the emergence of Honourable betara and insisted they will resist any attempt to truncate the democratic selection of the leadership of the national assembly.
They, therefore, warned that lawmakers should not abide by the decision of any political party on the choice of speaker for the 10th assembly.
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