>
Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Members-elect of the opposition parties in the House of Representatives, under the aegis of ‘The Greater Majority’ are currently divided over the speakership and deputy speakership candidates to support in the 10th National Assembly.
The ‘Greater Majority’ has members across the seven opposition parties in the House of Representatives that would be inaugurated in June.
The parties are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Action Democratic Congress (ADC).
It was gathered that members of the group held two simultaneous meetings at Transcorp Hilton and Frazier Suites in Abuja on Monday night to deliberate on the candidates to support.
However, the meetings ended on different notes with one side supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidates, Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu as Speaker and deputy, respectively.
The group that held its meeting at Transcorp Hilton disclosed that they had resolved to remain united in support of Abbas and Kalu.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, signed by the Convener, Idu Igariwey, and Secretary, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, members of the group declared their total support for the anointed candidates of the APC.
However, at the end of the other meeting held at Frazier Suites, Victor Afam Ogene, who briefed newsmen about 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, that at the end of the period given to undertake that assignment, no member of the minority caucus, better known as ‘The Greater Majority’ has 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 his or herself up for the position appear to be qualified,” he said.
The opposition had earlier constituted an 11-man committee to shop for candidates that will contest for the position of speaker and deputy speaker in the 10th House of Representatives.