The Peoples Democratic Party caucus at
the House of Representatives again clarified on Thursday that it had not
endorsed any candidate for the position of Speaker of the 8th Assembly.
The caucus made the clarification just as it rose from a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly.
There were speculation on Wednesday that
the caucus had endorsed the Chairman, Committee on House Services, Mr.
Yakubu Dogara, as its candidate for the job.
Dogara is an APC lawmaker from Bauchi State.
The PDP has about 139 lawmakers going to
the 8th Assembly, a number seen by many as big enough to produce any
candidate it backs as the likely winner.
But the caucus reacted on Thursday that the report of it backing a candidate was “hasty” and embarrassing to the group.
It said, “Such a hasty and invalid
speculation appears to have been given some mileage by the lone voice of
one of our members, who recently expressed sentiments in favour of one
of the candidates.
“We hereby unequivocally state that our
caucus has not endorsed anyone for the position of Speaker of the House
of Representatives.”
The caucus added that it remained
committed to providing “viable opposition “ in the next House and would
be guided by the “love for the Nigerian project” when its members would
vote to elect a new speaker.
However, as the party caucus clarified
its stance, some placard-carrying youths gathered at the gate of the
National Assembly, drumming support for Dogara.
The youths, who called themselves
North-East Unity Forum, made the appearance at the gate in collaboration
with another group called Nigerian Youth against Political Sabotage.
“Dogara is the right person for Speaker;” “It is the turn of the North-East and Dogara is our Man,” some of the placards read.
The youths urged the APC leadership to allow the North-East to produce the speaker “in the interest of justice and fairness.”
NYAPS’ National Coordinator, Mr. Tony
Obuah, addressed the youths, saying, “We have gathered here today in
solidarity to give a sense of belonging to the people of the North-East.
“They have suffered so much and they need to be given the opportunity to feel accepted as bonafide citizens of this country.
“You are witnesses to the trauma these people have gone through and are still going through due to the Boko Haram insurgency.
“There has been increasing poverty in the North-East. Education is at a low ebb because of insurgency.”
Dogara is seen as the main rival to the
incumbent Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, speculated to be the
choice of the APC for the speakership.
There is yet to be any official confirmation by the party.
Gbajabiamila took his campaign to members on the floor of the House on Thursday as he embarked on lobbying of colleagues.
For much part of the session, he was not
available on his allotted seat as he was seen most of the time
discussing with members about the upcoming election.
On one or two occasions, his path and Dogara’s crossed in the chamber as both lawmakers intensified the search for votes.
A third contestant, Mr. Abdulmumin
Jibrin, latched onto Wednesday’s comments by President-elect, Muhammadu
Buhari, to promote his anti-zoning stance.
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