On Friday, the seven candidates running for Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 10th Assembly pledged to put out a consensus candidate to face off against Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, the APC’s chosen candidate.
Following the president’s announcement, the election for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly is set for June 13, 2023.
While expressing their goodwill during the formal declaration of the departing Deputy Speaker of the 9th Assembly, Hon. Idris Wase, in Abuja, the lawmakers unanimously pledged to back one of their own to run for the position.
Muktar Betara Aliyu, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, stated in his speech, “I have known the Deputy Speaker since 2007 and we have been together since then. We are all members of the APC, therefore when we band together, we are not fighting. A candidate can be chosen by consensus, but we must sit down and declare that this is the person we have chosen to lead us. We won’t fight, I can tell all of my colleagues, electorate members, and past members. We will decide to support one of us in becoming Speaker.
During his remarks, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi added, “Six of us aspirants are here to support the campaign of our Deputy Speaker.” He reaffirmed the group’s commitment to ensuring the independence of the legislature.
“Six of us are committed to safeguarding democracy because the House of Representatives serves as the house of the Nigerian people,” he continued. There won’t be any House leadership present when we barricade ourselves inside. May the Almighty God discern our intentions and select the leader.
Idris Wase, the outgoing deputy speaker of the house, stated that he intended to run for speaker of the upcoming 10th assembly in order to create a strong and really autonomous legislative.
The pledge made by Hon. Wase was part of his 10-point platform, which was made public as part of his official declaration to run for Speaker of the 10th Assembly.
Additionally, he pledged to give security, financial restraint, economic development, and social welfare programs and schemes top priority.
Generally speaking, I will act with an avowed commitment to national integration in order to create a society where justice is the rule of law, he said.
In accordance with national laws, “we need to build on the progress made so far, and we need to support Nigeria’s international commitments that seek to advance the national interest and welfare of all Nigerian citizens.”
Hon. Wase, who represents the Wase Federal Constituency in Plateau State, reminded that the North Central Geopolitical Zone, where he is from, had not produced the Speaker since the restoration of democracy in 1999.
It was his turn, so he pleaded with the influential people to give the police control of the area.
It should be noted that, 24 years after Nigeria’s restoration to democracy in 1999, only the North Central region of the country has failed to produce the Speaker.
“Dear fellow Nigerians, Nigeria is based on the rule of law and the Constitution’s sacredness for justice to reign and to maintain peace in the nation.
In clear deference to Nigeria’s constitutional provisions and with your full support and understanding of Nigerians, I offer myself to run for and serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 10th Assembly on the basis of this so that the journey we started together long ago can continue to prosper.
Wase said the famous phrase of his leader, “Emilokan emilokan, emilokan,” at this juncture.
Hon. Sani Jaji (APC-Zamfara), Hon. Sada Soli (Katsina State), and Hon. Princess Mariam Onouha (APC-Imo) are additional G7 members that spoke at the occasion.
