NASS Speaker: G7 meets ‘Greater Majority’ to present consensus candidate

G7 aspirants for the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives have met with a “Greater Majority “and resolved to present a consensus candidate for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

The G7 aspirants met at a party with the “Greater Majority” in Abuja on Saturday.

They reiterated their commitment to work with the minority caucus to present a common front for the 10th National Assembly Speaker.

The aspirants consist of Ahmed Wase, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Aliyu Betara, the Chairman House Committee on Appropriation, and Yusuf Gagdi, the Chairman House Committee on Navy.

Others include Rep. Sada Soli (APC-Katsina), Sani Jaji (APC-Zamfara), Miriam Onuoha (APC-Imo) and Rep Ado Doguwa.

Soli commended the caucus while assuring them of their unalloyed support, promising to present a consensus candidate to the Greater Majority.

Responding on behalf of the Greater Majority, Rep. Fred Agbedi commended the G7 for seeing them as partners in progress for the progressive growth of the 10th House of Reps.

He hailed the lawmakers for maintaining the sacredness of the hollowed chamber while assuring the G7 that the caucus had not endorsed any candidate.

He promised that the more outstanding minority would work with all members-elect of the minority to ensure that the 10th House had a speaker for all.

The G7, however, found the endorsement of Abbas and Kalu as an affront to their aspirations, claiming they were not consulted and such endorsement would not stand.

The total number of minorities in the House from the PDP, NNPP, ADC, YPP and LP is 182, while the APC has 178 members-elect, while the focus of the more significant majority is to preserve the legislature’s independence.

Recall that the APC had presented Abbass Tajudeen and Benjamin Kalu as preferred candidates for Speaker and Deputy positions, respectively, ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June