The race for next Speaker of the House of Representatives is heightening as Pan-yoruba political group, the Yoruba Youth Movement, YYM on Thursday endorsed Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba for the seat.
Nwajiuba is House of Representatives’ member-elect from Okigwe South federal constituency in Imo State under Accord Party.
He reclaimed his temporarily deprived mandate to represent the good people of Okigwe South Federal Constituency vide a compelling pre election Federal High Court Judgment which had invalidated the candidature of Hon Chike Okafor, the incumbent House of Reps member for the Constituency in the 2019 NASS general elections
Sequel to the above, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC thus voided and withdrew the Certificate of Return, earlier issued to the incumbent by the default/error and re- issued same to the new member elect for the Federal Constituency as the authentic winner.
Nwajiuba was a former member of the House of Representatives and he is returning to the House a second time which makes him a ranking member and eligible to vie for the speakership of the House.
This is as Femi Gbajabiamila representing Surulere 1 Federal Constitutency in Lagos State reportedly got the support of 192 members-elect to beat his opponent during election.
The group also said its decision was in consideration of loyalty and experience in which it rated Nwajiuba as first among equals.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Kola Kayode, in Ibadan, Oyo State, YYM, argued that its decision on Nwajiuba was basically to balance the equation among the six geo-political zones of the country.
While many had expected that the group would endorse Femi Gbajabiamila or other candidates, YYM stressed that it choice candidate was also not selected based on religion rather on competence.
“If we look at it religiously, you will see that a southern Christian is what is needed to balance the scales in the ninth House of Representatives,” the group argued.
According to the YYM, between 2015 and now, the Southeast had doubled its votes in national elections” and so the distribution of the positions of principal officers of the House of Representatives should reflect national unity, balance and cohesion, with the Southeast having the speakership slot.
“Since the presidency is in the North-West, VP in the Southwest; Northeast angling for Senate presidency, South-South gunning for Deputy Senate presidency; North Central, deputy Speaker, the speakership should simply go to the South-East.
“And talking about the Southeast, Nwajiuba’s loyalty to President Buhari since 2003 is a clear demonstration of the needed qualities,” it added.
The group noted that Nwajiuba, who was House Committee Chairman on Land, Works and Housing, was initially a senior adviser to one-time Speaker, Aminu Bello Masari.
