As members of the House of Representatives await the zoning formula of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), GABRIEL ATUMEYI observes that allocation of leadership positions to zones may prevent experienced lawmakers from clinching top positions
Undoubtedly, cognate legislative experience is a major consideration for holding leadership positions in every legislative chamber. However positions of presiding officers is of the first among equals.
To this end, several other factors, including interpersonal relationships and leadership traits are mostly considered when lawmakers choose their leaders.
Unfortunately, in the spirit of inclusive politics and national spread, political parties at different times adopt a power rotation and zoning formula. The ninth Assembly isn’t going to be an exemption as the leadership of APC is already working-out the zoning arrangement, which is expected to be announced soon.
Beyond the concept of zoning, the APC also pronounce certain individuals as preferred candidates, sometimes after a mock election had been held.
Interestingly, this arrangement did not work-out in 2015 and it is not certain whether it will work ahead of the June 2019 inauguration of the ninth Assembly. This is because the underlisted lawmakers lay claim to the position in their own rights.
Alhassan Ado Doguwa
Alhassan Ado Garba Doguwa prides himself as the oldest serving member of the House of Representatives.
In 2015, Doguwa was elected to serve for the fourth term in the Green Chamber where he emerged as the 8th Assembly’s Chief Whip after Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila lost to Yakubu Dogara.
Doguwa was first elected to the House in 1992, under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and was one of the frontline members who supported the election of former Kano State Governor Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to become the Deputy Speaker in the 3rd.
In the year 2000, he was appointed as special adviser to the Kano State Governor on Environment. He later worked as a special adviser on Governmental Affairs and Political Party Affairs to Senate Presidents Chief Adolphus Wabara and Ken Nnamani respectively.
Doguwa succeeded in returning to the House of Representatives in 2007 where he became the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Doguwa who represents the people of Tudun Wada/Doguwa Federal Constituency re-elected Hon Doguwa in 2011, 2015 and 2019 is undoubtedly an asset to Nigeria’s parliament and has every requisite criteria to emerge as Speaker.
Doguwa, a First Class Graduate of Mass Communications from Bayero University Kano, is a focused personality who joined politics immediately after, and cannot be ignored in the power equation of the 9th Assembly.
However, the zoning arrangement may not favour him, as he hails from the same go-political zone with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tabir Monguno
Just like Doguwa, Monguno was elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 and served briefly before the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election that saw to the abrupt termination of that National Assembly.
During the House leadership tussle in 2015, Monguno, a former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Borno State, almost became Deputy Speaker as he ran together with Femi Gbajabiamila for the position. He was defeated by Lasun due to the fact that Dogara, who is also from the North-east, had already emerged as speaker.
Mohammed Tahir Monguno born in 1966 represents Jere Federal Constituency of Borno State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). His legislative interests border on education, health, youth matter and women affairs. He targets to bring the required development to his constituency and ensure the flourishing of democracy and unity of Nigeria.
Mohammed Tahir Monguno is a Fellow of the Institute of Global Communications and Diplomacy (f/014/0365); Fellow of the Institute of Public Diplomacy and Management; Member of Institute of Professional Managers and Administrators of Nigeria; Associate member of Nigeria Institute of Management; Registered member of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.
Femi Gbajabiamila
He is the preferred candidate of the APC for the exalted seat of Speaker. Gbaja as fondly called is a loyal member of the Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political family, hence he deserves Tinubu’s support.
Femi was first elected to the Green Chamber in 2003 and has been repeatedly elected for five consecutive terms.
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In 2014, Femi Gbajabiamila as the Leader of Opposition in the House of Representatives led his colleagues into the merger that gave birth to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Under Femi’s leadership of the APC caucus in the House, the party increased its numbers, earning them the majority.
Upon his re-election into the House of Representatives in 2015, Gbajabiamila presented himself to his colleagues as an aspirant for the Speakership seat in the House. He narrowly lost the election to the present Speaker Yakubu Dogara and afterwards emerged as the House Leader.
Although, the zoning arrangement may favour Gbajabiamila, he is said not to be a popular candidate among his colleagues. Also it is yet to be seen how the open endorsement he has received from the APC leaders would work for him. Members of the opposition PDP and some APC members are likely to revolt against him. Already, some lawmakers are angry that the party pointedly zoned the position to Gbajabiamila who hails from Lagos and belongs to the same political family with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
It is also yet to be seen whether the desire of Senator Oluremi Tinubu to become the Deputy Senate President would hinder Gbajabiamila’s chance.
Idris Wase
Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase is the current Deputy Majority Leader.
Wase has been representing Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State since 2007 in the Green Chamber.
Wase does not only possess the qualities of being a leader, but also has the prowess and finesse to handle every situation that may present itself as speaker.
If the APC zones the position to North Central, Wase who hails from Plateau State will be a top contender.
Umar Bago
Hon. Umar Bago, who represents Chanchaga Federal Constituency has also indicated interest to be Speaker.
He is a staunch loyalist of President Muhammadu Buhari and rode to the National Assembly in 2011 under defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). At a point, he was the major financier and benefactor of the party in the state. He is regarded as efficient mobiliser of the youths because he is himself a youth – only 45 years old. That would be good optics for the country.
Hon Bago is a third term member, he is eloquent, gifted with oratorial skills, Hon Bago is one of the few legislators that have never been a member of the former ruling party, PDP .
Bago’s contributions to the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari was significant, his versatility and dynamism coupled with his exceptional intelligence and very calm soundness of mind, enables him juggle these high demanding responsibilities with remarkable ease, marking him out as an enigma in Nigeria’s political firmament, Hon Bago will be bringing these qualities to bear when elected as the next speaker, House of Representatives.
Among other contributions, he donated more than one hundred vehicles for President Buhari’s re-election. Hon Bago’s attendance at the green chamber is reputable; he sponsored bills and moved several motions.
Bago who hails from Niger state hope’s that the position of Speaker will be zoned to the North Central zone.
Muktar Betara
Born in 1966, Aliyu Betara Muktar is a member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency of Bornu State under the platform of the APC.
Currently the chairman House Committee on Army, Betara wields a great influence among the lawmakers and has a good edge. However, if the position of Senate President goes to the North East, Betara who hails from Borno State may lose out in the power equation.
Nkirukah Onyejeocha
She is the only lawmaker from the South-east who has indicated interest in the position.
Onyejeocha represents the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi constituency. She was first elected member of the Federal House of Representatives in 2007 and later re-elected in 2015.
She was chairman of women in parliament and chairman of the House Committee on Aviation.
Since her election in 2007, Onyejeocha is yet to taste defeat and has constantly won her elections with or without the support of her party.
Before dumping the PDP for the ruling APC, she was one of the loyal members of the PDP and as the chairman of women in parliament, she has been influential in most of the decisions and activities in the House of Representatives, especially amongst the female members in the House.
