Speakership: Labour Party Candidate Joins Race

Ibe Osonwa, a Labour Party, LP, lawmaker has joined the race to become Nigeria’s Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Osonwa, a first-timer in Nigeria’s lower chamber of the National Assembly, NASS, threw his hat in the ring less than 48 hours after reports that the president-elect, Bola Tinubu has endorsed Tajudeen Abass, a lawmaker from Kaduna state as the next Speaker.

Tinubu’s endorsement of Abbas, the magazine learned has the support of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

This cannot be said of the other political parties in the chamber which have more elected members than the ruling party.

The figures provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC indicate that the combination of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, LP, and others have more elected members than the ruling party which appears poised to produce the next speaker.

This is more so considering that the LP said on Sunday that it has not endorsed any candidate for the position.

Speaking on his plan to become Speaker, Osonwa a member-elect from Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia, said he has joined the race to contest with other candidates.

The fresher lawmaker made this known when the South-East Young Professionals, a pressure group, from his region paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

He said he’s qualified to be the Speaker of the 10^th Assembly, even though many have equally cautioned that his chances to attain the position are very slim considering NASS rules that bare new members from contesting the top position.

Only ranking members can contest the position, according to the rule.

Speaking on his ambition, the lawmaker said, “We are taking everything into consideration while speaking to the leadership of the House and the South-East caucus.

“This is a moving sand. No positions have been taken. We do not get to elect the speaker until June 13.

“While the Constitution does not recognise ranking members but the House Standing Rules does, we will consult to know what our issues are.”

“We are going to embark on a mission of national integration. Diversity should not be our weak point but our strength and we must harness it.”

The LP Caucus led by Victor Ogene, a returnee member representing Ogbaru, Anambra state Federal Constituency said in a statement on Sunday that the party has not endorsed any candidate for speakership.

In an acceptance speech soon after he was elected Leader of the Caucus Ogene said the party will soon take a united position on the matter.

“May I use this opportunity to reiterate that the Labour Party caucus, House of Representatives, has not endorsed any Speakership aspirant.

“In fact, anyone desirous of our votes on the day of inauguration must first convince us, as a bloc, of what his plans and programmes for the Nigerian people are. While we may have individual preferences, I can assure you that at the end of the day, the Labour Party shall stand as one, indivisible entity to take a common and progressive stand,” Ogene said.

LP has a 34-member-elect in the National Assembly that’s expected to be inaugurated on June 6 this year.