Aliyu Betara and Yusuf Gagdi, prominent aspirants for the speakership, have decided to bow out of the race, endorsing the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s favored candidate, Tajudeen Abbas, for the speaker’s position in the House of Representatives.
Previously, Vanguard reported in its Sunday edition that Betara was expected to publicly withdraw from the speakership race prior to the Tuesday, June 13 inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
A statement released on Sunday by the Tajudeen Abbas/Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu Joint Task Campaign Office declared that these aspirants, among others, have formally withdrawn in favour of Abbas. This action essentially disassembles the Group 7 (G7) aspirants, who were initially opposed to Abbas’s candidacy.
The campaign office went on to debunk rumors that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was unaware of Abbas’s candidacy. With these latest developments, Vanguard notes that Abbas and deputy speaker nominee Hon. Benjamin Kalu have now overcome the majority of obstacles blocking their path to victory.
As it stands, the only remaining member of the dissatisfied G7 group opposing Abbas’s candidacy is the immediate past deputy speaker, Hon. Idris Wase, who has reiterated his intention to challenge the status quo at various forums.
The statement in full read: “Several aspirants for the Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives have claimed that the President/Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, never mentioned Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as his preferred candidate for Speaker. They stated that the President only expressed his alignment with the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC)’s zoning arrangement.
Significantly, the once formidable G7 has all but dissolved, as key members like Rt. Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Rt. Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Rt. Hon. Makki Yalleman and Rt. Hon. Raheem Tunji Olawuyi have relinquished their ambitions for the speakership, publicly endorsing the Abbas/Kalu ticket. Notably, Betara and Gagdi announced their withdrawal in favor of Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas on Sunday, June 11, 2023, following a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
As of Sunday, June 11, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas has garnered the support of a resounding majority of members-elect across the eight political parties from the six geopolitical zones. He stands ready to compete on the House floor and assume the leadership of the 10th House on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
For clarity, the APC NWC affirmed on Monday, May 8, 2023, that it had consulted with the President before reaching its resolution. The announcement of the APC NWC is as follows:
“The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) met on Monday, May 8, 2023 to review reports of consultations and meetings held with the President-Elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other party leaders, and stakeholders regarding the zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.
The zoning arrangement reported to the NWC is as follows:
Senate: Senate President – South South – Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom). Deputy Senate President – North West – Senator Barau
