APC Zoning Arrangement Meets Opposition Resistance; Betara Tipped For Speaker

• Opposition members-elect have rejected the All Progressives Congress’ zoning arrangement for the Speaker position.

• They have vowed to elect Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara as the Speaker of the 10th Assembly, despite his North East origin.

• The minority members believe that APC’s decision cannot be binding on them and that they want a speaker who can defend democracy and deliver dividends of democracy.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Members-elect from the various opposition political parties have said the All Progressives Congress (APC) zoning arrangement won’t be binding on them.

According to them, the fact that the vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima, comes from the North East does not stop the lawmaker representing Biu/Bayo/Shani Federal Constituency of Borno State, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, from being elected as speaker of the 10th Assembly.

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The opposition caucus made this resolution in Abuja on Saturday after the meeting.

Speaking on behalf of his South-South colleagues after the Abuja meeting, the member-elect for Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwara Federal Constituency of Cross River State, Peter Akpanke of the PDP, disclosed 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 won’t be binding on them.

It was learnt 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, the member-elect representing Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Inuwa Garba, said the argument in some quarters that the North East cannot produce both the Vice President and Speaker at the same time was laughable.

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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.”

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