Politics
House Speaker: We Feel Betrayed, Deputy Speaker, Others Tell APC
Frontline aspirants for the position of the Speaker for House of Representatives on Wednesday stormed the secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to register their displeasure over what they described as “imposition of consensus candidates” ahead of the 10th Assembly inauguration.
The ruling APC zoned the seat of Speaker to popular Kaduna lawmaker, Tajudeen Abass, while the reps-elect from Abia State, Benjamin Kalu, clinched the Deputy Speaker slot.
But following backlash from other aspirants and their allies, the ruling party played down its decision saying the selections were “not cast on stone.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, disclosed that the nominations of former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godwill Akpabio, and Abbas Tajudeen can still be changed as every party member is free to contest elective positions.
But some of the aggrieved lawmakers vying for the position of Speaker rallied themselves and stormed the national headquarters of the ruling party, seeking an explanation to the adopted zoning formula.
The delegation, which was led by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, held a crucial meeting with the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee shortly after their arrival.
In attendance were Sani Jaji (Zamfara), Yusuf Gagdi (Plateau); Muktar Betara (Borno), Mariam Onuoha (Imo), Sada Soli (Kastina); Femi Bamishile (Ekiti), Abubakar Nakraba (Nasarawa) and Ahmed Jaha (Borno).
While accusing the leadership of the ruling party of betraying the trust of the lawmakers through its sudden imposition of candidates, Wase lamented that the APC leadership did not even deem it fit to consult with them before taking its decision.
He said, “You recall in one of the meetings which you (Adamu) summoned us to the Villa with the vice president. You told us to step down and wait for a zoning arrangement. While doing that, as politicians, we slowed things but everybody continues the fight to get the favour of our colleagues. Some of us have tried also to reach out to members of the NWC and critical stakeholders around the country to ensure that we have their buy-in.
“Unfortunately, you also told us to slow down further because of the governorship election so that the party will not be distracted while we wait for another meeting that will be convened. That meeting didn’t come to fruition. Those of us who are here aspiring were not called for that meeting. (Instead) what we saw on social media was (that position was) micro-zoned to particular individuals, saying these are the people that had been picked by the party.
“As I speak to you, Sir, I want to say categorically that none of us here was approached or consulted even for a second to seek our opinion on what was going to be done. While trying to convince ourselves it was one of social media reports, we saw the spokesman of our party on television confirming that there was actual negotiation or consultation that resulted in the list (of consensus candidates) produced. It is unfortunate.
“Your Excellency, we feel betrayed by that action. We feel as if our contributions are not recognized and that we are not members of this family. We feel that we have given our best but now the best is no longer needed.”
Reacting to the lawmakers, the national chairman of the APC called for restraint and understanding, stressing that they are still consulting with stakeholders.
Adamu also argued that the party had previously warned many of the aspirants at a previous meeting to allow the president-elect, NWC members and other stakeholders take a decision before raising their hope.
He noted, “We have listened to you and don’t intend to open discussions right now in respect of your submissions. When you listen to the release from this office, we did say very clearly that we would endeavour to do more consultations to carry along with us the greater number of members of this great party.
“There is nothing we do that may not be challenged here and there. But let us be able to attend the best possible means to consult with people and give them their right of fair hearing before we can say we are changing positions or not. We will re-invite all Senators and House of reps-elect in due course after the National Assembly election. By the time we have invited you to the last meeting at the banquet hall, a number of you have started canvassing for these positions you are interested in. I remember vividly, I did advise that the meeting was not to talk about zoning.
“I want to thank you for not coming with this kind of “Wuru-wuru underground” and didn’t follow the backdoor to talk to us. But you chose to come very openly. Nigerians will hear better what we have just said. I plead with you in good conscience to give us a little time to take a good and better look at your presentation and open our ears and eyes the more before we can come with the finality of your submission and the outcome of it.”
This comes days after Dr Ganduje resigned as the National Chairman of the APC, citing urgent and personal matters.
He has since been replaced by Ali Bukar Dalori as the APC’s National Chairman.
A video of the inauguration was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Gbenga Saka, the Special Adviser on Digital Media to the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo.
Dr Ganduje, a former Governor of Kano State, was inaugurated with other members of the board, including the managing director of FAAN, Ms Olubunmi Kuku; Ms Dorothy Duruaka; Ahmed Ibrahim Suleiman; Nasiru Muazu; Omozojie Okoboh; TP Vembe, and Bridget Gold, who will serve as secretary of the board.
In January, President Bola Tinubu appointed the ex-Kano governor as the FAAN Board Chair.
“As we inaugurate this new board, we carry the weight of expectation that we must continue to foster an environment where aviation can thrive, connect diverse regions, and promote socioeconomic development across our nation.
“The challenges we face are numerous—from infrastructure deficits to the ever-evolving dynamics of global aviation. Yet, I am confident that the wealth of experience and expertise that each of you brings to this board will be instrumental in steering FAAN towards achieving its mission”, Mr Keyamo said while speaking at the event.
Late Gen. Abacha was the Head of State from November 1993 to June 1998. His administration was characterised by widespread corruption, mismanagement of public funds, and a clampdown on journalists and civil actors.
Over the years, critics of Mr Obi have alleged that the former Anambra State governor was among late Gen Abacha’s political appointees and, as such, cannot completely distance himself from the irregularities associated with that administration.
In response to the allegations, Mr Obi, last Wednesday, issued a statement via his social media handles alongside a copy of a letter, which showed he and others were co-opted into the taskforce team for port decongestion in Apapa, Lagos State.
The ex-presidential candidate explained that he met late Gen Abacha when he and other traders approached the ex-military leader on the decongestion of ports in the country.
“As I stated during my interview at the weekend and consistently maintained in the past, I had never met General Sani Abacha before that encounter. Our meeting with him was borne out of collective concern as traders and importers over the prolonged delays in clearing goods at the ports. We approached him not as political actors, but as concerned citizens seeking pragmatic solutions to a matter affecting economic activity and livelihoods,” Mr Obi said.
According to him, “Our intention was clear: to advocate for efficiency, and to propose practical steps towards restoring normalcy in port operations for the benefit of the wider business community and, ultimately, the Nigerian economy.
“This clarification is offered in the interest of truth, to reaffirm that our actions were driven solely by a sense of civic duty and not political ambition.
“I don’t expect this copious evidence to bury this Abacha case because the mischief makers have ulterior motives, but it’s being placed in the public space for posterity and in line with my transparency pledge to Nigerians on any issue I am involved in.”
The letter, published by Mr Obi, was dated April 24, 1996, and signed by Abu Gidado, then Minister of Finance.
The letter titled: ‘Appointment as Co-opted Members of Taskforce on Ports Decongestion’ was addressed to the secretary of Lagos Commerce Association.
In the letter, Mr Obi and Edwin Okeke were asked to serve at Apapa port.
The court also reaffirmed its earlier judgment that Hon. Omoaje and other members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party elected at the 2023 elective convention of the party held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, be recognized forthwith as the national chairman and executives of the party respectively.
This is even as the court ordered INEC to upload the names of the party’s officials on the commission’s portal as earlier ordered in its ruling delivered on March 11, 2025, stressing that any action of the commission contrary to that will attract sanctions.
At the resumed hearing of the case between Action Alliance and INEC before Justice Funmilola Dem-Ajayi on Wednesday, the court reaffirmed its earlier order, ruling that the March 11 judgment of the court subsists and will not deliver any other ruling until the earlier judgement is duly obeyed.
Both Hon. Omoaje and the Action Alliance had filed contempt suit before the court over the failure of INEC and Prof Yakubu to obey the court order which reinstated Hon. Omoaje as the national chairman of the party.
The trial judge, Justice Funmilola Dem-Ajayi was taken aback by the disobedience of INEC on the court order as the commission failed to upload the name of Hon. Omoaje on its portal four months after judgment was delivered.
However, counsel to INEC, Mr Hammed Mohammed, told the court that he had an application to file before the court and the court directed that the application be filed before the next adjourned date fixed for 14th July, 2025.
Mr Mohammed said INEC had obeyed the court order partially by recognizing the state chairmen elected at the 2023 elective convention of the party held in Abeokuta under the Adekunle Rufai Omoaje led leadership.
However, the court insisted that its order should be obeyed fully and not partially.
It would be recalled that the court had in March this year held that the convention organized by Udeze was a nullity and declared that the only recognized convention of the party was the one held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta in Ogun State in 2023, which produced Hon Omoaje as the national chairman of the party.
Besides, the court affirmed that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Action Alliance, as constituted on the 7th of October, 2023 led by Hon. Omoaje, remained the authentic and lawful leadership of the party, stressing that any claim to the contrary was baseless.
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