Some Lawmakers of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) have kicked against the stance of the party which has zoned the position of speaker in the ninth Assembly to the South West.
The lawmakers, who have also indicated their intention to contest for the position of speaker, said they are not backing down despite the party’s position.
According to one of the aspiring House of Representatives member, Abdulrazak Namdas, his intent is borne out of the fact that the North East region has been retrogressive in time past.
“I am aspiring for the position of the speaker and I will still go ahead and contest at this election because the North East zone is the most backward in Nigeria and West Africa.”
John Dyegh who represents Benue State from the North Central stated that the Party is yet to give cogent reasons why other aspirants cannot contest.
“The North Central zone has not been convinced or given reasons why their votes should not count and why we cannot run. We feel very strongly that there is still room for negotiation because we believe it is not over until it is over.”
Meanwhile, a lawmaker from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mark Gbillah, warned that the ruling APC should not rule out the eventual outcome of the election.
“There is no way 140 cannot sway the votes of whoever emerges; that is why it is an exercise in futility for the APC to think that they alone can deliver the speaker.”
The APC adopted the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, as its candidate for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th Assembly.
The position was reached after an intensive deliberation with the party’s House of Representatives members-elect at a dinner with President Muhammadu Buhari in April at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The election which is scheduled in May, will decide the eventual speaker of the next assembly.