June 11, (THEWILL) – The race for the speaker of the 10th House of Representatives is taking shape as two key frontrunners have stepped down for Tajudeen Abbas, the endorsed candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 13.
Abbas was announced as the preferred candidate of the APC weeks ago. But his announcement was met with protest from some interested members of the APC, including Muktar Betara and Yusuf Gagdi.
But, after a lot of horse-trading and negotiation, both Betara and Gagdi have agreed to step down on Sunday, for Abbas.
Announcing the decision on Sunday, Vice President Kashim Shettima said they stepped down “because what binds us together is superior to whatever divides us.”
Also, former Member of the House of Representatives and member-elect for the 10th House, Abdulmumin Jibrin, said, “After weeks of discussions, persuasions, political dexterity of the new Chief of Staff, wise counsel of the Vice President and most importantly, intervention of Mr President, Hon Muktar Betara and Yusuf Gagdi stepped down from the speakership race and support Hon Tajudeen Abbas.”
Also, spokesperson for the defunct Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development in a tweet.
“BREAKING: Aliyu Betara and Yusuf Gagdi, aspirants for the House of Representatives speakership, have agreed to step down for Tajudeen Abbas after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Vice President Kashim Shettima reports the agreement,” Onanuga tweeted.
Reacting to the development in a statement, Tajudeen Abbas/Hon. Benjamin Kalu Joint Task Campaign Office said Muktar Betara and Yusuf Gagdi, who were members of the G7, stepped down for Abbas after a meeting with Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The statement reads: “It is pertinent to mention that the so-called G7 no longer exists as key members of the forum such as Rt. Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Rt. Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Rt. Hon. Makki Yalleman and Rt. Hon. Raheem Tunji Olawuyi, among others, have since dropped their speakership ambitions and declared support for the Abbas/Kalu ticket.
“As of Sunday, June 11, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (PhD) has secured the endorsement of the overwhelming majority of members-elect across the eight political parties in the six geopolitical zones, and he is ready to compete on the floor of the House and take the mantle of leadership of the 10th House come Tuesday, June 13, 2023.”
Three aspirants including Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Abubakar Makki Yelleman and Abdulraheem Olawuyi, had earlier stepped down for Abbas.
