Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has refuted reports that he endorsed Tajudeen Abbas, a fellow All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Kaduna, to succeed him as the Speaker of the 10th assembly.
In a tweet on Thursday, Gbajabiamila dismissed the claims as false, stating that he had not declared support for any of his colleagues who have declared their interest in the position.
He emphasized the need to wait for the APC to complete its zoning exercise and that he cannot work against his party’s interest and position.
The report had claimed that Gbajabiamila was working against other aspirants, including the current deputy speaker, Idris Wase.
However, the Speaker made it clear that he had told the aspirants to be patient until the APC zones the position.
“Today, April 13, 2023, a national daily carried a cover story in which it reported that I was against the aspiration of my deputy, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, and some other aspirants to the office of Speaker in the 10th House,” he tweeted.
“I have not declared support for any of my colleagues who have declared their interest. I have made my position abundantly clear that there is a need to wait for the Party to complete its zoning exercise as I cannot work against my Party’s interest and position. I am a product of APC’s zoning in 2019, and I shall adhere to that any time the party comes up with its arrangement. Anyone/media peddling rumours of my endorsement of any of the aspirants should desist forthwith.”
The APC legislators seeking to succeed Gbajabiamila include the current deputy speaker, Idris Wase, Yusuf Gagdi, Ben Kalu, Muktar Betara, Abubakar Makki, and Sada Soli.
