Politics
Uncertainty Looms Over Selection Of Presiding Officers In 10th NASS Leadership
As the June 13 inauguration of the 10th National Assembly approaches, the prospects of individuals vying for presiding officer positions remain uncertain as President Bola Tinubu has not yet made an official statement regarding their candidacy, leaving their fate in limbo.
According to reliable sources, Vanguard reported that President Bola Tinubu held a meeting with lawmakers-elect at Aso Rock Villa on Wednesday night.
However, it has been reported that several contenders for presiding officer positions, including former governors Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and Orji Kalu of Abia states, were notably absent from the meeting.
A source with knowledge of the meeting revealed that certain northern leaders are insisting on the North producing both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In response to the situation, an anonymous lawmaker-elect stated “At the time you called, I was about entering the Villa. For now, nothing has changed. The president didn’t mention any name while meeting with us, all he said was that we should work and be united. That was all he said.”.
Regarding whether President Bola Tinubu would support Senator Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Tajudeen Abass for the positions of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, the source added, “I have just concluded the meeting, and the president did not indicate any preferred candidates.”.
On the North’s position on the 10th NASS leadership, he said: “This is a northern agenda, they don’t want Tinubu to control the Senate but as for the G-6, they are still intact, although Betara has withdrawn from the race his supporters have shifted base to Idris Wase.
“The president’s claim of religious balancing is what is most vexatious. How can he say so because his chief of staff is not just from Lagos, the same state? Is Gbajabiamila, not a Muslim? We shall meet on the floor on Tuesday.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) had previously announced its selection of Godswill Akpabio from the South-South zone as the Senate President, with Senator Jubrin Barau from the North West zone as the Deputy Senate President.
Furthermore, Tajudeen Abass from the North West and Benjamin Kalu from the South East were endorsed as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.
However, the party’s decision has faced criticism and condemnation from other contenders for the key positions within the National Assembly.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki participated in the ongoing governorship election by casting his vote at polling unit 19, Ward 4, located at Emokpae Primary School in Benin City.
Arriving at the polling station, he was accredited and completed the voting process in under ten minutes.
Following his vote, Obaseki expressed his satisfaction with the election process and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a smooth collation of votes.
Read Also: #EdoDecides2024: Ighodalo, Wife Cast Votes
He also praised the resilience of voters who turned out to exercise their franchise despite the heavy rain.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, has voted at his voting centre, Okaigben Ward 1, Unit 3, in Idinrio Primary School, Okaigben, Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Ighodalo arrived at the polling booth at about 10:33am, a few minutes after INEC’s officials arrived.
ALSO READ: #EdoDecides: Suspected Vote Buyers Nabbed In Egor
He, alongside his wife, Ifeyinwa, cast their ballot at Okaigben Ward 1, unit 3, Idinrio Primary School, Okaigben, Ewohimi.
The couple were accredited at about 12.03pm for voting at Okaigben Ward 1, unit 3, Idinrio Primary School, Okaigben, Ewohimi.
The PDP candidate expressed dissatisfaction over the late arrival of voting materials.
He is expected to battle against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Ekpobholo, for the votes in Edo Central Senatorial District, where both candidates hail from.
The Edo Central Senatorial District comprises of Esan South-East, Igueben and Esan North East, Esan West and Esan Central LGAs.
Speaking after casting his ballot, the governorship candidate expressed displeasure over the slow pace of the process.
“The process has been slow, but thankfully, I’ve finally voted,” he said.
He, however, expresses optimism for victory.
Despite the early morning rain, voters have thronged the various polling units and cast their votes.
Voting has ended at some polling units, and results have been collated.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested several individuals suspected of vote buying during the ongoing Edo Governorship election.
Some of the arrests occurred around 10:00 a.m. in the Egor Local Government Area.
Three suspects—two men and one woman—were taken into custody, despite protests from local residents who claimed they were being unfairly targeted.
Read Also: EdoDecides2024: BIVAS Machine Failure Halts Voting In Ugbekun
In anticipation of the election, the EFCC had on Friday, announced plans to deploy operatives to monitor the electoral process, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining electoral integrity.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale had said, “Our operatives are on the ground to ensure that voters can exercise their rights without facing financial inducement. Vote buying is a financial crime, and the EFCC will not tolerate it.”
Also, Yiaga Africa, a civil society organization (CSO), had warned that politicians might resort to violence and vote buying during the upcoming Edo election.
Egor is one of eight local government areas (LGAs) identified as hotspots for these issues, along with Ovia South-West, Ovia North-East, Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, Etsako West, Etsako East, and Esan South-East.
The organization stressed the urgent need to address vote buying through decisive actions, including the arrest and prosecution of those involved.
Yiaga noted a “volatile political climate” leading up to the election, pointing out that strong-arm tactics and violence have marred the campaign period.
Seventeen candidates are competing for over 2.2 million votes across the 18 LGAs in Edo.
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