House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, engaged in a heated exchange during Wednesday's plenary session.
Gbajabiamila had recommended Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively for the upcoming 10th House, leading to their endorsement by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). However, Wase, who aspires to become Speaker, belongs to a group of dissatisfied aspirants within the APC.
Towards the end of the session, Gbajabiamila announced that the sitting should adjourn by 2 pm to allow members to attend an event at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). This announcement drew criticism from Wase, who questioned prioritizing an NILDS event over legislative duties. Gbajabiamila defended the importance of NILDS and stated that the House would resume work after the event, but would adjourn by 2 pm.
This clash between the Speaker and Deputy Speaker comes amidst reports of a strained relationship between them, with Wase allegedly avoiding meetings and interactions with Gbajabiamila.
In related news, 63 members-elect from opposition parties in the 10th House of Representatives have endorsed the APC's preferred candidates, Tajudeen Abbas for Speaker and Benjamin Kalu for Deputy Speaker.
The endorsement was announced by the spokesman for the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Ikenga Ugochinyere, who stated that the selection was based on merit and aimed at achieving the best performance and achievements for Nigeria. Ugochinyere highlighted Abbas's legislative track record, including the passage of 21 bills into law during his previous terms in the House.
Amidst these developments, the race for the leadership positions in the 10th House of Representatives continues, with some members-elect expressing their support for Abbas and Kalu based on their competence and capacity rather than their APC affiliation.
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