…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
Muktar Betara Aliyu, the current Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation and member representing Biu/Bayo/Shani and Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno, has officially announced his bid to run for the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.
This is in spite of the zoning arrangement of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
Betara made his declaration on Monday at the Transcorp Hilton hotel in the presence of fellow contestants, Rep. Ahmed Wase, Rep Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Rep Sani Jaji, and Rep. Tunji Olawuyi.
The Niger Governor-elect, Rep Umaru Bago, who is a serving lawmaker and a close ally of Betara, was also in attendance.
His declaration comes just 24 hours after the APC officially announced its zoning arrangement, with the Speaker position being zoned to the North-West and the Deputy Speaker position to the South-East.
Rep. Abbas Tajudeen was chosen to succeed Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker, while Rep. Benjamin Kalu was chosen as Deputy Speaker.
Betara has pledged to go ahead and contest regardless of the zoning arrangement, citing the fact that several other ranking members of the House are also running for the position.
Analysis and Commentary
The decision by Muktar Betara Aliyu to run for Speaker of the House of Representatives, in spite of the zoning arrangement of the APC, highlights the ongoing controversies surrounding the party’s internal politics.
While zoning arrangements can be an effective way to distribute power and representation fairly, they can also be divisive and limiting.
Betara’s decision to contest the position, along with several other ranking members of the House, suggests that there is a lack of consensus within the APC about who should hold key positions of power.
This could lead to internal conflicts and potentially impact the party’s ability to govern effectively.
It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and whether the APC will be able to resolve these internal issues.
However, it is clear that the party’s future success may depend on its ability to navigate these complex political dynamics and build consensus among its members.
Read More On The Topic On TDPel Media