10th NASS: LP, PDP, others set 11-man c’ttee to seek credible opposition Speaker

By Christiana Ekpa

Theopposition parties in the House of Representatives have said they will contest for the speaker and the deputy speaker of the incoming 10th National Assembly.

At the moment, the parties subsumed in the minority caucuses with a coinage “Greater majority”, has 180 memberselect put together out of the 360 peopled parliament.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has 179 memberselect elect while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to conclude elections in Ikono/Ini federal constituency of Akwa Ibom State.

The political parties that made up the minority caucus outside the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Labour Party (LP); New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP); Africa Democratic Congress (ADC); Young People’s Party (YPP); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Rising from a meeting in Abuja Tuesday night, the party said they have the number to win the offices of the presiding officers.

A communiqué from the meeting signed by the secretary of the group, Hon. Efosa Imasuen added that an 11 man committee had been set up to hunt for credible candidates for the position.

“The members resolved as follows: To Contest the office of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representative of the National Assembly

“That we have resolve to set up an eleven-man Committee to scout for a credible and acceptable candidate that would vie for those offices, and then actively seek the unification of Nigerians along ethno-religious lines

“The Greater Majority with more than 180 elected members (being over 50% of the elected member) will remain one indivisible coalition during the 10th National Assembly, with the interest of the country as its driving force.

“That the greater Majority of the 10th National Assembly will be continually guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with the collective interest of Nigerians being its major concern.

“To assure Nigerians not to lose hope due to the country’s current unpleasant situation, including the disunity plaguing the nation, which is the direct consequence of APC’s misrule and that the Greater majority of the incoming 10th National assembly will remedy these problems as a matter of priority.

“The Great majority will continue to unify the coalition of opposition parties so that it can be an effective check on the ruling party in order to safeguard the rule of law”.

2023 polls aftermath: APC support group backs Tinubu, lobbies for Faleke

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

All Progressive Congress (APC) support group, under the auspices of Concerned All Progressive (APC) Youth Movement, has enjoined the President elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint the Coordinator of Tinubu Support Group (TSG), James Faleke, as his Chief of Staff (CoS).

This is just as the group expressed its full support for the President-Elect, Tinubu, saying he was voted for overwhelmingly by Nigerians on February 29, irrespective of political party affiliation.

In a statement signed yesterday by the group’s National Spokesman, Comrade Abdullahi Dauda Little, the National Secretary, Hon Adamu Garbajo Yola, National Women Coordinator, Hajiya Bahijja

Mahmood Bauchi, the group noted the hardwork and dedication of Hon. Abiodun Faleke, Hon. Adamu Garbajo Yola and all others who provided the support through proper coordination of all support groups.

While reminding the President elect that his success as recorded in the past was largely due to his knack for head hunting competent, loyal and capable citizens who share his vision to entrust them with positions of responsibility with little supervision to deliver, the group said having worked with many of his appointees, especially in the lead up to the 2023 general elections, they have come to the conclusion that Hon. Faleke stands heads and shoulders above others for the position of Chief of Staff.

“Our conviction was strengthened by his commitment to the Tinubu/ Shettima

Campaign where he played the pivotal role of coordinating various Support Groups which came together to form the Tinubu Support Group.

“After ensuring that the Tinubu brand emerged victorious during the APC Presidential Primaries, the TSG under his leadership took its assignment to the next level by campaigning vigorously for the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign which by God’s Grace, led to the victory we are all celebrating today.

“We are not asking for the office for Falake only as compensation for his hard work which is obvious, but because of his consistency, loyalty and above all competence.

“He has been a member of the House of Representatives and a committed party member and has remained a student of the Asiwaju Tinubu school of politics from the very beginning. We want our President to succeed, to put enemies of Nigeria to shame and to do this, our President in waiting will need strong hands who share his vision and commitment to the Nigeria project. One of such men is Hon. James Faleke.

“With Faleke, our President can rest assured that the engine room of his administration in terms of staff is in safe hands. The candidate knows every nook and cranny, he knows those who worked hard and contributed to our President’s victory from all across Nigeria and can under the guidance of Mr. President-Elect, ensure that hard work is not only rewarded but that Nigeria ultimately benefits”, the group said in the statement.

Admitting that Tinubu’s victory and his election, like most elections before it, generated a lot of interest within and outside