Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on June 13, the Joint Task-10th House has unveiled Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu as the anointed candidates for Speaker and deputy speaker for the 10th Assembly of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The unveiling took place at a brief meeting of the House Joint Task, on Tuesday evening at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
It had in attendance the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, Hon. James Faleke, some members-elect of the APC and a few minority party members, but other principal officers of the party in the house were absent at this meeting.
A report by Naijablitznews.com said that the National Working Commîttee (NWC) of the ruling party on Monday presented Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna state) and Hon. Benjamin Kalu (Abia state) as their chosen candidates for Speaker and deputy speaker respectively.
Speaking with journalists after the ceremony, Hon. Abbas, said his nomination was based on competence, even as he stated his readiness to reach out to other speakership aspirants.
When asked what his was, he said that his 16-point agenda for the 10th Assembly would be unveiled at his official.
When asked if he would be reaching out to other aspirants who were not happy with his selection by the party as a consensus candidate, he said: “We are reaching out to them. We are in the process, we have reached out to so many, and we will continue reaching out to all of them. Before the end of next week, I assure you we will reach out to all the candidate, all the aspirants, we will implore them and ask them to come on board so that we can work for the good of the institution and Nigeria.
“By next week, we are going to do our official declaration, so we’ll come out with our 16 points agenda. In that agenda, you will see all the areas we are going to work on in the 10th Assembly. I welcome you, I invite you to the declaration which will take place next week, then you will know what we have for the members, what we have for this country.”
On his part, Hon. Benjamin Kalu said that the party had taken an inclusive step by choosing him.
He therefore pledged to channel his energy in ensuring that the APC had more roots in the south east.
Kalu said further explained his plans to expand the party’s presence in the South East which is known to an opposition stronghold: “The party has started the strategy for the 2027 elections by making sure that they have a foot in the South Eastern region. What they have done with this nominations is in the spirit of inclusion.
“The South-East is going to feel the power of cohesion, and national loyalty is going to be driven by virtue of this that has taken place. So it’s a wise decision to include the South Easterners in the structure of the Government that’s being formed. As you know, it is the responsibility of a ruling party to set up the architecture of government in order to achieve the set national objectives. And I’m sure by making sure that everybody embraces that national objective will help them achieve it faster.
“And this architecture that’s being displayed now is an all inclusive architecture. And my people in the South East are delighted that they have been considered. And that will change the dynamics come 2027. Because an energetic young man who believes in the party, the supremacy of the party and loyalty to the party has been called up to stand on the platform to energize the zone for progress, unity and prosperity of the nation. And that I pledge we will do.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the Joint Tax-10th House, Hon. Bello Kumo explained that prior to the party’s choice the group did not have a chosen candidate for the position of Speaker.
“The day before yesterday, the Joint Task-10th Assembly was a neutral body of members-elect. And we took steps that would make sure that it is undiluted, unpolluted in verbatim. We put together a structure that is all inclusive, a structure that is drawn from all the 8 political parties that won seats in the House of Representatives in the 10th Assembly.
“Until today, we were not aligned with any aspirant. But we were unable to meet members-elect in general. We have been meeting members-elect either at the point of friendship, at the point of zones, at the point of States. But we felt that today’s meeting, we should bring all membes-elect to the general meeting to highlight the basis for this organization or group, or whatever tendencies (nomenclature) you are free to give us.
“To partner you and let you know that what we are doing is just simple, to partner you and ensure that we have a stable 10th Assembly like other previous leaders and Assemblies enjoyed.”
“Politics , yes it’s free but we will try as much as possible to ensure a rancour-free friendly and family 10th Assembly. But today, we have in our midst, Mr Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who’s sitting here as of right: one, as a member-elect, two as a serving Speaker, three as a life ex-officio member of the House of Representatives for life,” he added.
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