Chrys
Idris Wase, deputy speaker of the house of representatives,
on Friday, met with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The meeting was held at the presidential villa in Abuja.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Wase said he is
still in the race for the speakership of the 10th assembly.
Wase said he has not stepped down or withdrawn for any
candidate in the race.
“I am in the race,
and by the grace of God, I am going to conclude the race. I have not withdrawn
or stepped down for anybody,” he said.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) had anointed Tajudeen
Abbas and Benjamin Kalu as the preferred candidates for the positions of
speaker and deputy.
The nominations have been rejected by from six aspirants who
have allied to ensure the speaker is elected from among them.
Wase said the party’s decision contradicts section 14(4) of
the 1999 constitution.
He maintained that the section states the composition of the
government of the federation, including its agencies, should reflect the
federal character of Nigeria.
The lawmaker said the section was enshrined in the
constitution to foster national cohesion and prevent people from certain states
or ethnic groups from dominating government offices.
The legislator said he and his colleagues in the race share
the same line of thought against the APC zoning arrangement.
“I am not just
speaking for myself,” he added.
Wase said the APC didn’t consult other speakership aspirants
in the race before settling for a preferred candidate.
He said the party’s move was anti-democratic, noting that it
would be resisted.
