Speakership tussle: Gbaja meets reps-elect amid opposition to Abbas’ nomination

 

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, on Tuesday night, met with members-elect for the 10th assembly.

 

The meeting with the reps-elect, including returning and new lawmakers, was held behind closed doors at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

 

The sit-down was organised by the Joint Task, a coalition of eight political parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

The coalition is led by lawmakers loyal to Gbajabiamila and President-elect Bola Tinubu.

 

The meeting took place amid opposition to the nomination of Tajudeen Abbas for the speakership position by the APC.

 

Recall that the ruling party picked Abbas and Benjamin Kalu for the position of speaker and deputy — a decision that has been rejected by some aspirants in the race.

 

Commenting on the development at the speakership declaration of Muktar Betara on Monday, Idris Wase, the deputy speaker who is also in the race, said they will reject any attempt to “hijack” the parliament.

 

The plateau lawmaker said the parliament must be independent and free from imposition.

 

“We will work as a team. We will not allow this parliament to be hijacked. We will not allow this parliament to be made a lame duck. I believe we are loyal to our country first, loyal to our party and loyal to our people,” he said.

 

Alhassan Doguwa, the majority leader; Yusuf Gagdi, chairperson of the committee on navy; and Sada Soli, chairperson of the committee on water resources — all speakership hopefuls — attended Betara’s declaration hours after the APC announced its zoning formula for the national assembly principal offices.

 

Though details of the closed-door meeting have not been made public, it is understood that it was aimed at persuading the lawmakers to support the party’s choice.

 

Speaking before the session, Bello Kumo, chairperson of the Joint Task, said the coalition aims to ensure that there is stability in the 10th assembly.