10th Assembly speakership race: Gagdi posters, banners flood APC headquarters

By Christiana Ekpa

As the race for who emerged the Speaker of the 10th session of the House of Representatives gathers momentum, the posters and banners of Yusuf Adamu Gagdi on Monday flood All Progressive Congress (APC) National Secretariat, Abuja.
The posters and banners bearing the inscription: ‘GAGDI for SPEAKER 2023 10th ASSEMBLY were displayed at the entrance and inside the Muhammadu Buhari House (APC National Secretariat) at No 40 Blantyre street, Wuse 2 Abuja.
The 42-year old lawmaker is the member representing Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke Federal Constituency of Plateau State on the platform of the ruling APC.
While the ruling party is yet to zone the leadership positions in both chambers of the National Assembly, some lawmakers are already eyeing the seat of the Speaker of the green chamber.
The top contenders for the Speaker so far include; the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase (APC, Plateau); Gagdi (APC, Plateau), the Chairman House Committee on Navy; Muktar Aliyu Betara (APC, Borno); Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia); Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara); and Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano) and Tajudeen Abbas (APC, Kaduna).
Gagdi who had signified interest in the race and is undergoing serious consultations has been receiving the backing of many Nigerians, especially the youths who are clamouring for the speakership of the House after the presidency has been taken and senate presidency may be taken by the elderly.
While the posters and banners sighted at the APC National Secretariat bears the name of no supporters, it was gathered Nigerian youths and critical stakeholders from north-central, a zone which has not produced the speaker in past 30 years were behind it.
There has been the clamour for the Speaker of the House be ceded to the North-central geopolitical zone and the youths.
Also known as Middle Belt, the North-central geopolitical zone comprises of six states, namely, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The only time the North-central zone produced a Speaker of House was in 1983 when Chaha Biam from Benue State was elected to the exalted office which he served barely two months (October to December) and the military ousted the Second Republic.