Members-elect from various opposition political parties have stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) zoning agreement will not bind them.
According to them, the fact that the vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima, is from the North East does not preclude Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara of Borno State, who represents the Biu/Bayo/Shani Federal Constituency, from being elected as speaker of the 10th Assembly.
WITHIN NIGERIA understands that the opposition caucus passed this resolution after meeting in Abuja on Saturday.
Speaking on behalf of his South-South colleagues following the Abuja meeting, the PDP’s member-elect for Cross River State’s Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwara Federal Constituency, Peter Akpanke, revealed that they resolved to elect the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Betara, as their next speaker, adding that the APC’s zoning arrangement will not be binding on them.
It was learned from Daily Trust that Akpanke, who spoke in the presence of some APC members-elect who were part of the meeting said;
All of us are not members of APC, so whatever they decide cannot be binding on us. That is their party’s decision. So if they can convince their members, that’s good for them.
But they don’t have the numbers, we the minority members are more. They need us to be able to produce a speaker. By the way, will all members of the APC even support the party’s decision?
Those of us in NASS want to support a speaker who is our own, a speaker who will defend democracy, someone who will protect the interests of members and help us deliver the dividends of democracy.
Similarly, Inuwa Garba, the member-elect representing Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency in Gombe State, dismissed the argument advanced by some that the North East cannot produce both the Vice President and the Speaker at the same time.
Garba, who is of the PDP, said;
History is there for us to see. This is not the first time that will be happening. In 1979-1983 the Speaker of the House of Representatives was from Anambra State, and the Vice President also was from Anambra State. We have the same thing now. The Vice President is from the South West, likewise the Speaker. So there is a precedence.