In a meeting of members-elect under the banner of the ’10th Joint Task’ in Abuja, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep. Ado Doguwa, and five other aspirants have stepped down from the Speaker and Deputy Speakership race. The Speakership aspirants, Rep. Abdulraheem Olaoye, Rep. Makki Yalleman, and Rep. Ado Doguwa, who each represented APC in Ogun, Jigawa, and Kano States respectively, withdrew from the race for Rep. Tajudeen Abbas from Kaduna State. Meanwhile, the Deputy Speakership aspirants, Rep. Abiola Makinde from Ondo State, Rep. Francis Waive from Delta State, and Rep. Julius Ihonberev from Edo State, withdrew from the race for Rep. Benjamin Kalu from Abia State.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) had earlier endorsed Abbas and Kalu for the offices of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively. This endorsement was further endorsed by the Minority Party Forum, a group of approximately 70 members-elect who announced their support for the duo.
Speaking for the aspirants, Doguwa said that they “had come to join the Abbas/Kalu campaign.” Acknowledging that they all had wanted to be Speaker, he highlighted the importance of supporting the party’s choice and emphasized the need to work together for the greater good. Rep. Julius Ihonberev spoke on behalf of the Deputy Speaker aspirants and reiterated their support for the APC’s choice.
Despite the withdrawal of six aspirants, the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, Chairman Committee on Appropriation, Rep. Muktar Betara, Chairman Committee on Water Resources, Rep. Sada Soli, Rep. Mariam Onouha, and Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, remain in the race.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC had previously zoned the Senate Presidency of the forthcoming 10th National Assembly to the South-South and the Speakership of the House of Representatives to the North-West. The party also zoned the Deputy Senate Presidency to the North-West and Deputy Speakership to the South-East. Specifically, the party settled for Senators Godswill Akpabio/Barau Jubrin for Senate leadership and Abass/Kalu for House of Representatives leadership.
In conclusion, the race for House leadership is progressing as more aspirants sign up and withdraw, shaping the future of Nigerian politics in the weeks to come.
