The coalition of opposition political parties elected into the 10th House of Representatives has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was confused over the choice of candidates for the speakership. The caucus also dismissed claims that its members were beginning to drift apart.
One of the spokespersons of the minority caucus also referred to as “Greater Majority” Hon Afam Victor Ogene in a statement noted that given the fact that over 10 persons were still jostling for the speakership barely five weeks to the inauguration of the new assembly was an indication that APC’s house was not in order.
While reacting to the attention generated by the formal declaration of the chairman House Committee on Navy, Hon Yusuf Gagbi in Abuja, the group stated that “attendance at such events does not translate to endorsement.”
Ogene said the opposition will continue to interrogate and interface with the aspirants while keeping their plan in wraps.
“What you see going on is not anything unusual. In an electioneering season, such as we have currently, members-elect are free to honour invites by friends and colleagues.
“The mere fact that five weeks to inauguration of the National Assembly, the APC still has over 10 Speakership aspirants speaks volumes about the confusion therein. Regardless, as a popular African idiom proclaims, ‘if you close your eyes because you don’t want to see bad people, you may also not be aware when good people pass by.’
“By inference, therefore, the Greater Majority would continue to interface and interrogate all members of the 10th House of Representatives even as we keep our own plans close to our chest,” Ogene said.
Meanwhile, barring any last-minute eventuality, the chairman, committee on Appropriations, Hon. Aliyu Betara, a leading aspirant will formally declare this morning. Betara may be joined by about 200 members-elect at the event as a mark of endorsement.
