BY ROTIMI DUROJAIYE
No doubt, the intrigue about the election of the third and fourth highest public officials in Nigeria is one that will persist until June 9, when the 10th National Assembly is inaugurated.
Already, the ruling All Progressives Congress is contending with rebellion from opposition parties as lawmakers-elect are plotting to install their choices, as principal officers of the 10th Senate and House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives speakership seat race has reached a fever pitch ahead of the inauguration of the 10th assembly.
While the ruling APC, with more lawmakers in the lower chambers, is plotting to adopt the zoning principle, the opposition lawmakers have joined forces to upstage the APC by selecting the new Speaker from their camp.
The tussle for leadership at the upcoming 10th National Assembly has been intriguing over the past few weeks.
Talks have mostly been about the Senate presidential seat in the upper chamber, but interestingly, conversations about the speakership seat in the House of Representatives have begun to surface.
Out of the results so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the APC won 162 seats in the House while the opposition parties claimed 163 seats.
It was gathered that re-elected and newly-elected members of the House of Representatives from the opposition camps are already synergising to upstage the ruling party for the speakership position.
Meanwhile, in the camp of the APC, there are ongoing conversations amongst the party’s leadership to zone the speakership position.
However, this move did not go well with elected lawmakers in the opposition who are already plotting to join forces and override the APC.
The aspiration for the speakership position has risen to 10, and conversations amongst the opposition have already been set in motion.
The latest declaration of interest in the speakership is Abdulraheem Olawuyi, who represents the Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in Kwara State.
The lawmaker representing Mallammadori/Kaugama Federal Constituency in Jigawa State and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Abubakar Yalleman, has declared his speakership ambition to journalists.
The Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase; the embattled Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; the Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi; Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Aliyu Betara; Chairman, House Committee on Science Research Institutes, Olaide Akinremi; Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu; and Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport, Tajudeen Abbas, are also said to be eyeing the seat.
The lawmakers-elect met in Abuja on Tuesday night where they fine-tuned strategies for using their numbers as bargaining power in their negotiations with the speakership aspirants.
It was gathered that the opposition lawmakers-elect, at the meeting, planned to work together to influence the election of the 10th House of Representatives leadership.
“The coalition of minority parties may wrest power from the APC, which presently has a majority in the House”
Emergence of ‘Greater Majority’
At their Tuesday strategy meeting, the lawmakers-elect unanimously formed a group, ‘10th Assembly: Greater Majority.’
In attendance were old and newly elected members of the House on the platforms of the PDP, the LP, the New Nigeria People’s Party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the Social Democratic Party, the African Democratic Congress and the Young Progressives Party.
Also present at the parley were ranking members of the House, including Oluwole Oke (PDP/Osun), Beni Lar (PDP/Plateau), Boma Goodhead (PDP/Rivers), Bamidele Salam (PDP/Osun), Dachung Bagos (PDP/Plateau), and Jonathan Gbefwi (SDP/Nasarawa), as well as a former ranking member, Abdulmumin Jibrin (NNPP/Kano), who has been reelected back to the parliament.
One of the organisers of the meeting, Ali Isa, said the opposition parties had the numbers to get what they wanted.
He stated “For now, the opposition has not taken any decision. We are still consulting. But we have the numbers to do anything we want.
“All the political parties, – LP, APGA, YPP, SDP, ADC and PDP – came together to be united; to also see what we can do to help this country. As I earlier said a few days ago, the National Assembly is an arm of the government and we as lawmakers are ready to work for the country; we are ready to ensure that every bill that will change the life of the common man sees the light of the day in the Assembly.
“We will also appreciate if the executive will allow the lawmakers to enjoy independence. We will also not interfere in the affairs of the executive.”
According to him, the opposition lawmakers will not recognise the zoning of the leadership positions by the APC.
Isa stated, “We have no business with any zoning. We in the opposition, what we are looking at is to unite the country to ensure people benefit. We don’t have any agenda for zoning on our table.”
Dachung Bagos (PDP/Plateau), who anchored the meeting, noted that the minority parties “will achieve what nobody thinks we can achieve.”
Convener of the coalition, Fred Agbedi (PDP/Bayelsa), in his welcome address, said it was the inaugural meeting of the minority caucuses which he referred to as the ‘Greater Majority’ of the expected 10th House.’’
He stated that the results of the 2023 elections indicated that the opposition members could exert a lot of influence if they were united.
Agbedi said, “This session is to enable us to network, interact and familiarise ourselves as people that the results of the 2023 general election have thrown up as a new phase, having numbers that give us greater strength to deepen opposition politics and democracy.
“Therefore, we need to realise such a bond in the interest of our parties and the people we are here to represent.”
In their goodwill messages representatives of the seven opposition parties, namely PDP, LP, NNPP, SDP, APGA, ADC and YPP hinted at the ideas behind the coalition.
Addressing her colleagues, Lar said it was her “sincere wish and prayer” that as the opposition united to “start this journey of unity and friendship, achieving a common purpose and goal, “they would work together, define their interests and have a common understanding “to bring about good leadership not just among ourselves but within the National Assembly in the 10th Assembly.”
In his remarks, Abdulmumin Jibrin (NNPP/Kano), said he was excited “that we were able to pull this through today.”
Jibrin was said to have played a significant role in the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal, Yakubu Dogara and the incumbent Femi Gbajabiamila as successive speakers of the House.
Jibrin had lost his re-election bid for the current 9th House on the APC platform.
He was one of the leading campaigners for the President-elect, Bola Tinubu. He, however, dumped the ruling party for the NNPP and got re-elected to the House for the 10th Assembly.
He said, “Fundamentally, the reason why we had to come together, work day and night to see that we bring all the minority parties (together), which is now known from today as the ‘Greater Majority’ is because we also understand that for us to be able to put through our collective interests; for us to be able to protect our ideals as minority parties that fundamentally serve as a check to the ruling party; for us to be able to contribute to the nation-building, we must come together.”
Speaking for the LP, George Ozodinobi from Anambra State said, “We are a minority caucus. We are pledging commitment to this unity of the great alliance of the 10th Assembly. I believe that we are all minorities coming together for a common purpose, to stand firm for the overall benefit of us, irrespective of seniority, considering also the ratio in an alliance.
“I stand here on behalf of the 34-strong and vibrant members-elect of the LP, believing that this bonding shall attract even and mutual benefits to us in this 10th Assembly.”
Sources at the meeting held behind closed-doors said the coalition of minority parties may wrest power from the APC, which presently has a majority in the House.
Expressing confidence in the coalition, a PDP lawmaker who did not want to be identified said, “We can beat the APC after the supplementary elections. Anything can happen.”
A breakdown of the minority caucus membership configuration shows that the PDP has 102; LP, 34; NNPP, 18; APGA, four; ADC, two; and SDP, two; and YPP, one.
A returning member of the PDP, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he was not allowed to disclose the intention of the meeting, said the opposition parties might form the majority after the supplementary elections.
The INEC has so far declared winners in elections for 26 governorship, 104 senatorial, 329 House of Reps and 935 state assembly seats and is billed to conduct supplementary elections in 2,660 polling units across 185 local government areas in 24 states on April 15.
Before the meeting, it was gathered that members of the minority caucus in the House were waiting for the outcome of the 2023 general elections rerun to determine their numerical strength and select new leaders for the 10th National Assembly.
Several members of the caucus noted that both the majority and minority parties would determine the leadership of the next assembly.
A ranking member of the House, Oluwole Oke (PDP/Osun), noted that the results of the polls so far declared by the electoral commission had indicated that the minority caucus in the 10th House would be constituted by members of seven opposition parties.
Oke said, “We are not talking about minority leadership for the 10th Assembly now. The 9th Assembly has yet to wind down. We still have supplementary elections here and there in some Federal Constituencies. It is after all the elections have been concluded that we would see the whole picture.
“Political Parties will definitely have a say in who becomes the Minority Leader. Aside from APC, we now have seven other political parties. Yes, PDP has the second largest no of members after APC but we all need ourselves to give our nation the best.”
Similarly, another ranking member of the PDP from Rivers State, Dagomie Abiante, noted that the outcome of the supplementary would go a long way in determining the next leaders of the House.
Declaring support for the bold moves by their members-elect, both the PDP and LP said they would encourage them to contest for leadership positions in the federal parliament.
The PDP confirmed that talks were ongoing with other political parties to win the support of their members-elect in pursuit of the speakership ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, said, “The conversations are on but we have to be patient with the process. It is true that if things go on as expected, the PDP can produce the speaker but talks are still at a preliminary stage. We will cross the bridge when we get there.”
The embattled National Chairman of the LP, Julius Abure, explained that the end goal of the partnership by the opposition parties was to ensure the interest of the Nigerian people was secured.
Giving a hint of what is to come, a member of the 9th House of Representatives, Richard Agbo said, “The PDP minority caucus is still consulting widely to take a definite position. Though we have not taken any firm position on the 10th Assembly speakership, it is likely that the minority parties will sponsor a candidate for the position of the speaker and I can tell you too that the minority caucus will definitely play a critical role in who becomes the speaker.’’
We’re in control, says APC
However, the APC is not taking lightly the manoeuvre by the opposition parties to take over the national assembly principal offices, stating that it will not stand by and allow this to happen.
The APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim said, “We are not going to witness that. All hands are on deck to ensure there is a smooth transition between the 9th and 10th Assembly. As the leading party, nothing will be out of control.
“Some people are peddling false information and fake news all over the place to overheat the arrangement. But I assure you that everything is (being) done in such a way that nothing untoward is likely going to happen.”
Faulting the opposition coalition, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, said that majority status would be determined by the number of a party and not a coalition of parties.
Kalu said, “The House Rule is very clear with regards to who forms the majority and who becomes the speaker and from where. I am sure that when the House Rule speaks about the majority, it speaks about a single party, not a coalition of minority parties coming together. That is a different thing. The minority parties coming together can form a caucus with minority leadership.
But to use that as a formula to determine the Speaker, based on our House Rule, it might be difficult.”
Race to succeed Lawan becomes more intense
In the Senate, at least four senators are in the race to occupy the seat as from June when the 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated.
The frontrunners are: Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Abdul Aziz Abubakar Yari (Zamfara) and Barau Jibrin (Kano).
Each of the contenders has been campaigning to justify his quest for the position through some groups.
A group, the Northern Democratic Agenda, urged the APC to immediately consult other like-minds in opposition to present candidates with high credibility and capacity to stabilise the 10th National Assembly.
It said there would be a repeat of what happened in 2011 and 2015, should the APC fail to put its house in order.
The group said the most ideal zone to present a candidate for the President of the 10th Senate is the South South and that Godswill Akpabio should be given the position.
The group’s National President, Turaki Yakubu, told reporters that only a popular candidate like Akpabio would deter the opposition from altering the APC arrangement of who and where the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives should come from.
Also, the aspiration of Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu to become the Senate President has received a further boost.
“The minority parties coming together can form a caucus with minority leadership. But to use that as a formula to determine the Speaker, based on our House Rule, it might be difficult”
The Diaspora chapter of the ruling APC in South Korea has thrown its weight behind the former Abia State governor.
A statement last week in Abuja by the party’s South Korean Chairman Yuccee Uwah, and its Secretary, Chief Charles Mokwe, said the chapter of the party was supporting Kalu after its members undertook a thorough profile assessment of all senators-elect that have so far indicated interest in the Senate President’s seat.
Rising from its general meeting in Seoul, South Korea, the party said it identified Kalu’s parliamentary experience, including his detribalised leadership qualities, as major factors which they said are most needed to lead the affairs of the Red Chamber.
Also, the APC North West youths have urged the ruling party to zone the 10th Senate President seat to the area.
They argued that lawmakers from the region have not led the Senate since 1960.
Addressing reporters at Arewa House in Kaduna, the APC North West Youth Leader, Abdulhamid Umar Moh’d (Oscar) said the zone accounts for the highest voting pattern for winning presidential tickets and elections, just like in the recently concluded presidential election.
Moh’d said: “The South East produced Nnamdi Azikiwe as Senate President in 1960 under the NCNC; Dennis Osadebay is a South-southerner who led the Senate in 1960–1963 under NCNC; Senator Nwafor Orizu is a South-eastener who served as Senate President from 1963–1966 under NCNC; Joseph Wayas is a South-southerner who served as Senate President from 1979–1983 under NPN; Iyorchia Ayu is from North Central and he led the hallowed chamber from 1992–1993 under the SDP; Ameh Ebute equally from North Central and was Senate President from 1993 under SDP.
“Under the democratic dispensation from 1999, Evan(s) Enwerem, a South Easterner, became the senate president under PDP. He was succeeded by Chuba Okadigbo from 1999–2000 in the same PDP; Anyim Pius Anyim from Ebonyi State took over the senate leadership from 2000–2003 under PDP. Adolphus Wabara, from Southsouth subsequently became the senate president from 2003–2005 under PDP.
“From 2005 to 2007 of the PDP, Ken Nnamani from the Southeast handed over to David Mark, from north central 2007–2015 under PDP, Bukola Saraki 2015–2019 APC/PDP and Ahmed Lawan 2019 to present of APC is from North East.”
Also, the Alliance of Arewa for Asiwaju, APC National Youth Vanguard and APC National Youth Action Forum have expressed support for Abdulaziz Yari’s to become the Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.
Convener of the groups, Abdulkareem Jimeta said to achieve the Nigeria of our dreams, the country needs to look beyond tribe and religion but towards competence and antecedents in our leaders.
‘The mistake of 2015’
APC members had blamed what they regarded as lack of cooperation of the 8th National Assembly in general and the Senate in particular with the executive in terms of timely passage of the budget among others to the hijacking of the leadership of the Red Chamber by forces not favoured by the party at its inception in 2015.
Indeed, most APC members are yet to recover from the pains of the ‘coup like’ take-over of the leadership of the Senate by Bukola Saraki, who was then a member of APC with the help of members of the opposition PDP at the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly in June, 2015.
Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th Senate, APC, which has again gained majority, is reportedly determined to ensure what some members of the party now referred to as ‘the mistake of 2015’ does not repeat itself.
