Deputy Speaker Wase Defies APC and Tinubu's Endorsement, Declares "It's My Turn" for Speaker Position

Idris Wase, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has announced his candidacy for the position of Speaker of the House, despite his party's decision to zone the position to the North-west. 

Mr Wase, who is from Plateau State, believes that the Nigerian constitution must be followed to ensure that the North-central is not excluded from the distribution of offices. 

He stated that the North-central is the only region that has not produced a Speaker since Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999. Mr Wase's candidacy is supported by a group of APC lawmakers opposed to the party's zoning arrangement, who have formed a coalition called the Coalition of Progressive Speakership Aspirants (COPSA). 

The new House of Representatives will be inaugurated in June, about two weeks after the inauguration of the president.

During the declaration of Idris Wase's candidacy for the position of Speaker of the House, several members of the Coalition of Progressive Speakership Aspirants (COPSA) attended and showed their support. 

They emphasized their commitment to opposing any attempt to impose a candidate on the lawmakers. 

Muktar Betara, a member of COPSA, stated that the selection of a consensus candidate must be done in consultation with all members and that the group is not looking to fight, but to support one of their own as the speaker.