House of Reps Officers: Opposition Members Elect Set To Wrestle Power From APC, To Choose Candidates For Contest

By Ayodele Oni

It may not be a smooth ride for adopted candidate from the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), for speakership of the incoming green chamber as Opposition members-elect are set to give a good fight to clinch the seat.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Enugu State Branch, Chief CNN Nwagbara, had said that selection of speaker or Senate president is not determined by party majority.

The legal luminary was of the view that the members-elect had the sole right to choose their leader through indirect election within themselves in line with section 92 of the 1999 constitution.

Some members of the House of Representatives elect mainly from opposition parties have set up a committee to screen and select candidates to run for Speaker of the 10th Assembly.

In a statement in Abuja, the members-elect announced  Nicholas Mutu as Chairman, and Victor Ogene as Secretary of the 11-man committee.

The statement, which was signed by Ogene and three other members of the caucus, said that the committee has one week to turn in its report.

The members, drawn from eight parties which refers to itself as the “Greater Minority” said that with 183 members, they have what it takes to produce the speaker as against the 173 members of the APC.

“Based on the common pact which our respective political parties have with the Nigerian people, which is to holding government accountable to the people, we resolved to step into the arena, by offering credible and alternative leadership options.

“In keeping with this resolve, the “Greater Majority” of the 10th House of Representatives has put together an 11-man Committee – complemented by a chairman and secretary – charged with the task of shortlisting, screening and eventual recommendation of aspirants for the Speakership and Deputy Speaker positions.

“With a long-standing member of the House of Representatives, Nicholas Mutu as Chairman, and Victor Ogene as Secretary, the Committee has one week to turn in its Report.”

Members of the Committee include, Rep. Abdulmumini Jibrin, Deputy Chairman (NNPP) Rep. Oluwole Oke (PDP) Rep. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi (SDP) and Rep. Beni Lar (PDP).

Others are, Dr Ali Isa (PDP)  Kabiru Rurum (NNPP) Donatus Mathew Kuzalio (LP) Yusuf Salisu Majigiri (PDP) Nnabuife Chinwe Clara(YPP)  Maureen Chinwe APGA, Idris Salman(ADC) and Afam Ogene Secretary (LP)

The APC dominates the House of Representatives with 175 seats, while the PDP has 118 and LP controls 35.

The NNPP has 19 seats, APGA, five seats, while SDP and ADC have two seats each while the YPP has a single seat.