10th Speaker: Minority Set Up 11-Man C’mttee To Nominate Speaker, Deputy

The minority caucus in the House of Representatives on Monday constitutes an 11-man committee to shortlist aspirants for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the 10th House.

The committee is headed by the longest-serving member of the House, Hon. Nicholas Mutu (PDP, Delta) with Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as Secretary.

This was contained in a statement joined signed by their spokespersons, Hon. Dachung Bagos (PDP, Plateau), Hon. Jonathan Gbefwi Gaza (SDP, Nasarawa), and Hon. Victor Ogene (LP, Anambra).

The membership includes Hon Nicholas Mutu, Chairman (PDP), Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin, Deputy Chairman (NNPP), Hon. Oluwole Oke, Member (PDP), Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi, Member (SDP), Hon. Beni Lar, Member (PDP) and Hon. Dr. Ali Isa JC, Member (PDP).

The rest are Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, Member (NNPP ), Hon. Donatus Mathew Kuzalio, Member (LP), Hon. Yusuf Salisu Majigiri, Member (PDP), Hon. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara, Member (YPP), Hon. Gwacham Maureen Chinwe (Member) APGA, Hon. Idris Salman, Member (ADC) and Hon. Afam Ogene, Secretary (LP)

The statement read:Barely one week ago, precisely on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, We, the seven political parties which make up the Minority bloc of the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives, announced to the Nigerian people, via your different media organs, that it would, ultimately, seek to field candidates for the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker from among our ranks.

“Consequently, and in keeping with its resolve in that regard, the “Greater Majority” of the 10th House of Representatives has put together an 11-man Committee – complemented by a chairman and secretary – charged with the task of shortlisting, screening, and eventual recommendation of aspirants for the Speakership and Deputy Speaker positions.

“With a long-standing member of the House of Representatives, the Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu as Chairman, and Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as Secretary, the Committee has one week to turn in its Report.

“This position has largely been foisted on the emergent 10th Assembly by the discordant tunes coming from the stable of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

“Conscious, however, of the common pact, which our respective political parties have with the Nigerian people, to wit, ‘holding government accountable to the people,’ We resolved to step into the arena, by offering credible and alternative leadership options.

“Our position is further buoyed by our dominant numerical strength, which by Parliamentary ethos, precedent, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, As Amended, allows us to contest the Presiding Officers position.

“Since emerging as the “Greater Majority,” with a combined Members-Elect tally of 183, as against the APC’s total of 177, history beckons on us to constructively, and creatively, chart the path towards the deepening of our nation’s democracy”.