Muktar Betara, a member of the House of Representatives, has officially announced his candidacy for the position of Speaker in the 10th assembly, News About Nigeria reports.
Betara made this announcement during a gathering in Abuja on Monday evening.
The declaration event was attended by several other individuals who also have aspirations for the position of Speaker. Among them were Idris Wase, the Deputy Speaker; Alhassan Doguwa, the Majority Leader; Yusuf Gagdi, the Chairperson of the Navy Committee; and Sada Soli, the Chairperson of the Water Resources Committee.
Umaro Bago, an outgoing lawmaker and the governor-elect of Niger state, was also present.
In his address to the audience, Betara expressed his gratitude for the support of his fellow lawmakers, emphasizing their unity as a parliamentary family. He highlighted his experience, having served in the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th assemblies.
Betara’s announcement came shortly after the All Progressives Congress (APC) nominated Tajudeen Abbas from Kaduna for the position of Speaker and Ben Kalu from Abia for the position of Deputy Speaker.
During the declaration event, Idris Wase voiced his opposition to the party’s nomination, stating that they were not consulted before the decision was made.
He stressed the importance of an independent parliament that is not influenced or controlled by external forces.
He affirmed their commitment to the country, the party, and the people, and emphasized the need for genuine consensus through meaningful consultations and agreements.
Similarly, Alhassan Doguwa emphasized that the selection of principal officers should be solely the responsibility of the lawmakers.
He rejected any attempts by external entities to determine the leadership without consulting the members, considering it a failure to uphold the principles of parliamentary autonomy.
