The race for the speakership of the 10th House of Representatives has splitted the minority Caucus as a faction endorses the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidate, Tajuddeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.
The faction in a Communique after its meeting at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja Monday night signed by Idu Igariwey and Secretary Kabiru Alhassan Rurum stated that, it has resolved to support Abbas and Kalu as candidates.
It reads in parts “”We, the members of the under listed political parties elected into the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives, having reviewed the number and composition of the 10th Assembly and having considered the need for the minority parties to play an effective, crucial, and credible role in the composition of the leadership and running of the 10th Assembly hereby resolve as follows:
“That we will be united and focused on the primary responsibility of the minority parties in the 10th Assembly, which is to provide a vibrant and credible Opposition in Parliament for the entrenchment of good governance in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That we will severally and jointly work for the passage of laws and motions, which will promote the prosperity and wellbeing of Nigerians and advance the civil liberties and benefits entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That in furtherance of our resolve to play a leading role in the formation of the leadership of the 10th Assembly and as a result of our diligent interactions with all aspirants for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, we hereby resolve to support the duo of Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu respectively as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“That we have found in the two persons of Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu, a leadership that will allow for fairness, equity as well as provide equal platform for all political parties represented in Parliament to have a say in the running of the legislature and expression of alternate views on issues of public interest.
“That in the next few days we will be meeting in a larger caucus of the minority parties to discuss and formalise the adoption of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker designates of the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives”.
However, at the other meeting held simultaneously at Frazier Suites by another section of the ‘Minority Caucuses’ the co-spokesperson of the group, Afam Ogene, said the 11 man committee set up by the caucus had met with APC speakership aspirants and all of them seemed to be qualified for position.
“We did met with those aspiring for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, but because we have not briefed our members, I will not go into details of our interface.
“But I can assure you everyone that put him or herself running for the position appears to be qualified,”He said.
He promised that the details of the meeting with the aspirants will not be divulged until other members are briefed.
