Aliyu Betara (APC-Borno) has officially declared his intention to run for the 10th House of Representatives speaker ahead of the June 5 inauguration. Mr Betara, however, accused Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila of sponsoring an unpopular candidate to succeed him.

Mr Betara, the incumbent chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, spoke in Abuja on Monday while declaring his intention to contest the house’s number one position.

At the event, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Mr Betara was joined by other contestants, Ahmed Wase, the deputy speaker, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, the house leader, Sani Jaji and Tunji Olawuyi.

Others present at the venue in solidarity was Governor-elect Umaru Bago (Niger), a serving lawmaker and a close ally of Mr Betara. Other lawmakers-elect across party divides were also at the venue.

On Monday, the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress officially zoned the speaker’s position to the North-West, while the deputy speaker was zoned to the South-East.

Meanwhile, Abbas Tajudeen (APC-Kaduna) was chosen to succeed Mr Gbajabiamila, and Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) was chosen as the deputy speaker.

Mr Betara said it was surprising that Mr Gbajabiamila nominated Mr Abass when many legislators indicated an interest in the position.

“If today, the deputy speaker of the house is contesting, the chairman of the appropriation committee is contesting, the majority leader is contesting, then who’s closer (in rank) to the speaker?” he asked.

Security agents had a hectic time checkmating unruly party supporters from the different parties who were at the venue of the declaration.

(NAN)