Two leading contenders in the 10th National Assembly speakership race, Rep. Muktar Betara (APC-Borno) and Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau), have stepped down and endorsed Rep.Tajudeen Abbas.
This latest endorsement signals crisis within the G-7, a group of aspirants aggrieved with the endorsement of Tajudeen Abbas. Other members of the group including Ado Doguwa, Muktar Betara, Yusuf Gagdi, Makki Yalleman and Raheem Olawuyi have also dropped their ambition.
According to a statement by the Rep. Tajudeen Abbas/Rep. Benjamin Kalu Joint Task Campaign Office on Sunday in Abuja, Abbas has secured the endorsement of the overwhelming majority of members-elect across the eight political parties in the six geopolitical zones.
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According to the statement, Abbas is ready to compete on the floor of the House and take the mantle of leadership of the 10th House on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
“It is pertinent to mention that the so-called G7 no longer exists as key members of the forum such as Rep. Ado Doguwa, Rep. Muktar Betara, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, Rep. Makki Yalleman and Rep. Raheem Olawuyi, among others have since dropped their speakership ambitions and declared support for the Abbas/Kalu ticket.
“It is worthy to note that Betara and Gagdi announced that they stepped down for Abbas on Sunday, June 11, 2023, after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima,” the statement said.
The campaign office faulted media reports claiming that President Tinubu never mentioned Abbas as his preferred candidate.
They recalled that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had on May 8, 2023, consulted with the President before reaching that resolution on the zoning arrangement.
The party zoned the office of the Senate President to Sen. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom (South-South) while the Deputy Senate President was zoned to Sen. Barau Jibrin of Kano (North-West).
The party also zoned the office of the Speaker, House of Representatives to Rep. Abass Tajudeen of Kaduna state (North-West) and the Deputy Speaker to Rep. Benjamin Kalu of Abia (South East).
“Therefore, it is preposterous to claim that President Tinubu was not aware of the adoption of Rep. Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker. We urge the public, especially the media, to disregard such claims,” they said.
