10th assembly: Crack in opposition caucus over APC anointed candidates

Members-Elect of the opposition parties called ‘The Greater Majority’ are currently divided over the Speakership and Deputy Speakership candidates to support. The ‘Greater Majority’ has members across the seven opposition parties in the incoming 10th House of Representatives. The parties are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), New Nigeran […]

Members-Elect of the opposition parties called ‘The Greater Majority’ are currently divided over the Speakership and Deputy Speakership candidates to support.

The ‘Greater Majority’ has members across the seven opposition parties in the incoming 10th House of Representatives.

The parties are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), New Nigeran Peoples Party (NNPP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Action Democratic Congress (ADC).

The group held two simultaneous meetings at Transcorp Hilton and Frazier Suites in Abuja Monday night to deliberate on the way forward.

However, the meetings ended on different notes with one side supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidate, Tajuddeen Abbas, (APC,Kaduna) and Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia) as Speaker and Deputy, respectively.

Rising from the meeting, the group that held its meeting at Transcorp stated that they had resolved to remain united in support of Abbas.

The communique was signed by the Convener, Idu Igariwey, and Secretary, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum.

However, at the other meeting held at the Frazier Suites, Victor Afam Ogene, who disclosed the resolution reached by members at the meeting, said they don’t have a definite candidate to support as no member of the minority had indicated interest to contest.

“The committee called on Members of the minority caucus who are interested in the speakership position or Deputy Speaker position to step forward.”

“I wish to report on behalf of the Chairman of that Committee and the entire members, as at the end of the period given to undertake that assignment no member of the minority caucus better known as the greater majority stepped forward to contest for the role of presiding officers.

“Deductively this means that we are not bidding for those two positions. However we remain united as one caucus of the opposition parties.

“We did also met with those aspiring for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, but because we’ve not briefed our members, I will not go into details of our interface. But I can assure you everyone that put him or herself running for the position appear to be qualified”,he said.

The opposition had earlier constituted an 11 man committee to shop for candidates for the the Speaker and Deputy to contest for the 10th House of Representatives leadership.