Abbas Tajudeen defeats Wase, Jaji to emerge speaker with 353 votes

Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, has emerged as the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives after securing 353 votes

The lawmaker representing Zaria Federal Constituency, scored 353 votes out of 359 to defeat other contenders, Ahmed Wase and Sani Jaji, who polled three votes apiece.
The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) had annointed Abbas and Hon Benjamin Kalu as Speaker and Deputy of the 10th House of reps respectively.

However, other contenders under the name, the G-7, vowed to slug it out in the contest with Abbas

Following Presure from the presidency, members of the G-7 had one after the other dropped their aspiration to be Speaker of the 10th Assembly.

On Sunday, Betara and Gagdi threw in the towel after meeting with President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President, Kashim Shettima.

Wase and Jaji continued in the race making the total number of nominees 3.

The Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlami joined by the Clerk of the House presided over the session with the process commencing at 10amm

Ogunlami took the roll call for all 359 Members-elect followed by the call for the nomination of candidates for the position of Speaker of the 10th House.

The House adopted the open ballot method as enshrined in its amended House rule that states that when there are more than two nominations each member-elect shall openly declare his/her candidates of choice for the position of Speaker.

While Abbas was nominated by former Majority Leader of the House, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, a Lawmaker from Kwara State, Tijjani Kayode Ismail, nominated the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase.

Abbas’s nomination was seconded by Nnolim Nnaji.

Doguwa explained that Abbas has Parliamentary experience, competence and has the capacity to relate with other arms of government, to preside over the 10th Assembly.

Ahmed Yusuf Ibrahim from Katsina State nominated Jaji from Zamfara State.

Jaji accepted the nomination, saying he was out to defend democracy.

During the voting, members-elect cheered a former aspirant for Speaker, Aliyu Betara, when he voted for Abbas.

As Betara was called to declare his choice among the three contenders for the position, many lawmakers cheered and clapped for him.

The lawmaker declared his vote for Abbas.

The immediate past speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila was also cheered after openly declaring for Abbas.