Udora Orizu in Abuja
A Coalition of aggrieved speakership aspirants popularly known as the G-7 has crumbled as its key members, Hon. Muktar Betara and Hon. Yusuf Gagdi have stepped down for the All Progressive Congress, APC consensus candidate Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
Betara and Gagdi declared their support for Abass and Benjamin Kalu for Speaker, Deputy Speaker respectively after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Abbas and Kalu Joint Task Campaign Office who made this known in a statement on Sunday night, also refuted claims that Tinubu was not aware of the adoption of Abbas as Speaker.
The statement reads, “It has come to the attention of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly that some aspirants for the Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, never mentioned the name of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as his preferred candidate for Speaker, but that the President only said he aligned with the position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) on zoning arrangement. As of Sunday June 11, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (PhD) has secured the endorsement of the overwhelming majority of members-elect across the eight political parties in the six geopolitical zones, and he is ready to compete on the floor of the House and take the mantle of leadership of the 10th House come Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
“For the record, the APC NWC announced on Monday, May 8, 2023 that it consulted with the President before reaching that resolution. The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) met today, Monday, May 8, 2023 to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the President-Elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other party leaders, and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.”
