Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau) says he has not dropped his ambition to contest the speakership position of the 10th House of Representatives.

Mr Gagdi, representing Pankshin-Kanke-Kanam federal constituency, stated this while speaking to journalists shortly after he dissolved his campaign council on Sunday in Jos.

He said his ambition was intact until President-elect Bola Tinubu addressed the speakership tussle within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“If there is anybody that is ready to become the speaker of the 10th House of Representatives is me. If I have anything that will make me step down, I will say it in public,” the lawmaker explained. 

He added, “Until the president-elect, who has the capacity to address the injustice meted on the people of the North-Central geopolitical zone, my ambition for the speakership is intact.”

On why he wants to become the speaker, Mr Gagdi said his young age, contribution on the house floor, legislative activities and other achievements in the last four years as a lawmaker has naturally placed him in the vantage position to contest for the seat.

“In the area of justice, I am from the North-Central, and the North-Central deserves to produce the speaker. If it is zoned to northern Nigeria, it is only the North-Central that has not produced a speaker in the past years,” Mr Gagdi stressed. “North-West has done (this) almost four times; North-East, twice. The records are there.”

He added, “The North-Central has contributed to the APC’s victory. So, the North-Central has done its best for the APC, and the speakership should be zoned to us.”

The lawmaker added that having spent four years in the National Assembly, he understands the workings of the House of Representatives and would right the wrongs in the house if elected speaker.

(NAN)