Senior APC lawmakers challenge Tinubu, APC’s consensus for House Speaker

Senior members of the ruling party in Nigeria have vowed to contest their party’s selection for Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna) has reportedly been chosen by the ruling APC to serve as the Speaker of the 10th House, which will be inaugurated next month. This announcement was made on Monday. The APC claimed that Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, had been consulted before making the decision.

Five high-ranking APC lawmakers, who had also declared their candidacy for the position, however, announced on Monday that they would team up to oppose their party’s nominee.

This was said on Monday at Muktar Betara’s official announcement for the position by the current Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, who is also a candidate. The occasion took place at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.

Five of the candidates, according to Mr. Wase, have decided to unite in opposition to the APC’s consensus plan. He mentioned himself, Mr. Betara, Sada Soli, Alhassan Doguwa, and Ahmed Jaji as the five.

The candidates came together at the event on Monday to express their unity in the face of Mr. Abbas’ open endorsement.

Yusuf Gagdi and Miriam Onuoha were present at the declaration but refrained from publicly criticizing it.

According to earlier reports, the ruling party selected Ben Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia State, as deputy speaker and Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker from Kaduna State, as the consensus candidate.

Mr. Wase stated in his speech that he was opposed to any kind of consensus that was reached without the input of the House members. All legislators must fight to preserve the parliament, he claimed.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a candidate for the APC presidency.
incoming president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He claimed that four of the disgruntled candidates met and decided to challenge Mr. Abbas. Later, Mr. Doguwa, the current majority leader, joined the group, according to Mr. Wase.

“We are here to support the parliament’s independence. to make sure our family works together. I have never seen a moment like the one we are witnessing today in the parliament. Every member of parliament must therefore rise to the challenge and defend the institution. In light of this, the five of us sat down and decided to work together to stop the parliament from being taken over and turned into a lame duck.

“We won’t let this parliament be tarnished. We won’t let this parliament be taken over. Prior to being loyal to our party or to our people, we are loyal to our country. When you say you have a consensus candidate, the language for consensus is very simple, as my leader (Doguwa) did mention. This indicates extensive consultation. For consultation, people have been brought to the table. We are hearing rumors and speculation that some people have been chosen as consensus candidates in this case, the speaker said.

He declared, “We will defeat those forces who believe Nigeria is in our pocket.”

Speaking as well, Mr. Doguwa argued that lawmakers should be in charge of choosing the parliament’s leaders, not outsiders who did so without their input.

“We should only be concerned with the business of choosing our leaders. Respect must be shown for members who are on an equal footing.

When someone else, under any pretense, tries to decide how, where, when, or who should form leadership without consulting us, that ought to be viewed as a mere failure. Includement is crucial. Everyone should use his father’s name until then, but I’m open to suggestions,” he said.

Mr. Soli, a lawmaker from Katsina State, spoke in a straightforward manner. He stated that everyone must uphold the sacredness of the parliament. He claimed that the legislative body would be doomed based on the reports the lawmakers are receiving about the consensus agreement.

In his speech, Mr. Betara expressed his willingness to cooperate with the other candidates for the position in the parliament.

The institution is being reclaimed by the group, according to Mr. Betara.

All of the candidates who spoke explicitly stated that they are still vying for the speakership.

Legislators elected on the platforms of minor parties also announced Monday that they would challenge the APC for the position of speaker, which is a sign of the intense campaigning to come in the upcoming weeks.

In a statement on Monday, the lawmakers-elect, drawn from the seven minor parties, stated that they would use their numerical advantage to elect the lower House’s presiding officers.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Young Progressive Party (YPP) are the parties.

“History beckons on us to constructively, and creatively, chart the path towards the deepening of our nation’s democracy,” they said. “Since emerging as the “Greater Majority,” with a combined members-elected tally of 183, as opposed to the APC’s total of 177.