The coalition of minority members-elect in the 10th House of Representatives has become divided due to contests for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

The ’10th Assembly Greater Majority,’ a group of minority lawmakers-elect, is reportedly backing Aliyu Betara, a member from Borno State, while a new coalition has emerged in support of Tajudeen Abbas, who has been endorsed by the All Progressives Congress.

A significant number of lawmakers-elect are withdrawing from the ’10th Assembly – Greater Majority,’ a coalition comprising members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other minority parties in the 10th House.

The discontented opposition members, particularly those hailing from Rivers State and loyal to Governor Nyesom Wike, have announced their intention to establish a parallel coalition called the Minority Parties’ Forum, set to be launched today (Monday).

The new development came as the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority, planned to unveil aspirants for the positions of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker in the opposition camp this week.

On May 2, 2023, the coalition had previously stated its intention to nominate candidates for these roles from its own members.

The coalition justified its decision by citing the “divergent opinions” emerging from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The opposition lawmakers-elect expressed their determination to enter the fray by presenting viable and alternative leadership choices, highlighting their coalition’s strength of 183 members compared to the ruling party’s 177.

Consequently, the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority has established an 11-member committee with the responsibility of shortlisting, screening, and ultimately recommending aspirants within a week’s time.

The committee is composed of Nicholas Mutu from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) serving as Chairman, Victor Ogene from the Labour Party (LP) as Secretary, and Abdulmumini Jibrin from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) as Deputy Chairman. Other members include Oluwole Oke, Jonathan Gbefwi, Beni Lar, Ali Isa, Alhassan Rurum, Mathew Kuzalio, Salisu Majigiri, Nnabuife Chinwe, Gwacham Maureen, and Idris Salman.

According to Ogene, who spoke to our correspondent on Saturday, some members of the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority have indicated interests  in running for the leadership positions. He had also hinted that the opposition members might consider and adopt a candidate among the aspirants in the ruling APC.

However, a member-elect, Solomon Bob (PDP/Rivers), in an interview with our correspondent on Sunday, disclosed that some members of the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority were pulling out and launching a new group of opposition members on Monday.

Bob alleged that the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority was billed to adopt the current Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Betara, as its candidate.

Ironically, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Iduma Igariwey (PDP/Ebonyi), is said to be leading the factional minorities’ coalition which is billed to adopt candidates anointed by the APC. An NNPP member from Kano State, Alhassan Rurum, will be the secretary of the pressure group.

The lawmaker said, “I belong to Joint Task – 10th Assembly; I don’t belong to the Greater Majority. In fact, they are the minor minority now, with the way we are going. We will form another coalition called Minority Parties’ Forum. We are launching tomorrow (Monday). It is parallel to that one, so that we will let the whole world know that there is one Minority Parties’ Forum.

“They cannot come and seek to monopolise the perception out there that the minorities are in one basket and they are (allegedly) pushing for Betara. We have steered the public perception, giving the false impression that all minorities are for Betara. That is not true.”

When asked about the leader of the new coalition, Bob said, “Igariwey is the one coordinating (the coalition) and Alhassan Rurum is the secretary.”

Responding to a question on why Igariwey would oppose Betara’s speakership ambition despite being deputy chairman and chairman of the same committee, respectively, Bob said, “Igariwey has not been with Betara from Day 1. Being deputy to Betara in a term that is ending is one thing, trying to usher in another term is a different thing.”

When asked about the claim by the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority that has more members-elect than the APC caucus, the Rivers lawmaker claimed that the Minority Parties’ Forum would have more opposition members.

Bob stated, “Where will they get the numbers from? Everybody in Oyo State; the 14 members are with us. In Osun, out of nine, they have only one and that is Wole Oke; all the eight are with us. In Rivers, all 13 members are with us. In Akwa Ibom, all 10 are with us. Where, then, will they get the numbers from?”

The PDP member, however, admitted that the Minority Parties’ Forum would adopt the APC candidates. “We are going for Tajudeen Abbas, the person endorsed by the APC,” he said.

When contacted, Igariwey confirmed the development but said the move was only to reposition the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority.

He said, “It is actually another group in the minority caucus. Greater Minority is not our slogan. It is still the same group but the only difference is that we are trying to reposition the group. It is still the same group of minorities being populated by the same people.”

When asked about leaders and members of the Greater Majority who have been attending meetings by the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, a coalition of members-elect of the APC and opposition parties which has adopted the zoning plan of the ruling party.

Igariwey said, “We are going to have our meeting tomorrow. We will come out with something like a communiqué with which you will be better informed about it.”

Ogene (LP/Anambra), who speaks for the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority, was contacted on the number of aspirants in the opposition coalition who had indicated an interest in the speakership race as well as the emergence of another group.

He, however, referred our correspondent to the coordinators of the group, Messrs Fred Agbedi (PDP/Bayelsa), Jonathan Gbefwi (SDP/Nasarawa) and Dachung Bagos (PDP/Plateau).

However, neither Agbedi nor Gbefwi and Bagos picked up the calls made to them.

Meanwhile, ahead of the June 13 inauguration of the 10th Senate, the South-South Youth Alliance on Sunday said those against the choice of Godswill Akpabio as Senate President were against the “will of God” for Nigeria.

The youth group in a statement issued in Abuja described Akpabio as a “democrat“ who is qualified for the position of the top senate job.

The statement signed by the coordinator of the group, Benjamin Nwizua reads, “Senator Akpabio was a performing governor of Akwa Ibom State who earned the title, uncommon governor. He proceeded to the Senate where he became Minority leader and later minister of Niger Delta Affairs.”

Also,  a group of the ruling party under the aegis of the Progressives Foundational Movement has thrown its weight behind Abass as the next Speaker.

The group also pleaded with the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the leadership of APC not to bow to pressure and subtle threat to remove Abbas from the list of anointed candidates.

On Sunday, the plea was conveyed through a statement released in Abuja by Aganaba Johnson, the National Coordinator of the PFM (Presidential Front Movement).

However, a different group called the Northern Business Roundtable has urged Senators elected from different party affiliations to unite in support of Abdulaziz Yari, the former Governor of Zamfara State, in his bid for the Senate Presidency.

During a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, Larai Kolo, the group’s spokesperson, emphasized Yari’s aptitude and integrity, asserting that he possesses the necessary qualities to lead the Senate.