Abubakar Yalleman, a member of the House of Representatives representing Mallammadori/Kaugama Federal Constituency in Jigawa State and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, has entered the race for Speaker of the 10th National Assembly. Yalleman explained that the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership’s zoning formula will determine which positions lawmakers contest, and he urged the party to zone the Speakership to the North. He argued that such zoning would promote fairness and balance in the distribution of political offices, aligning with the principle of federal character even though it is not explicitly stated in the 1999 Constitution.
In an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Yalleman said, “I will contest for the position of Speaker of the 10th National Assembly if the leadership of our party, the All Progressives Congress, zones it to the North‑West geopolitical zone where I hail from.” He expressed optimism that the Speakership would be allocated to either the North‑Central or the North‑West. Yalleman noted that the President‑elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is from the South‑West, while the Vice President‑elect, Kashim Shettima, comes from the North‑East.
Defending the interests of the North‑West, Yalleman highlighted that the zone has the highest number of registered voters according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, and that voters from the area contributed significantly to Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election. He recalled that out of the seven North‑West states—Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara—Tinubu won only in Jigawa and Zamfara, while the APC candidate placed second in the others.
Yalleman also pointed out that the North‑West has never produced a Speaker since 1999. The previous Speakers have been Salisu Buhari and Ghali Na’Abba from Kano, Aminu Masari from Katsina, and Aminu Tambuwal from Sokoto. He argued that it is time for the North‑West to be represented in the Speakership.
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