‘Gbajabiamila will become Speaker unopposed’

The House of Representatives member-elect for Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, Mansur Manu Soro, has expressed optimism that Femi Gbajabiamila will become the Speaker in the ninth National Assembly.

Gbajabiamala is a major contender in the race for the exalted office of the Speaker.

He adopted Ahmed Wase, a member from Plateau State as his running mate.

Manu Soro said two-thirds of members-elect in various political parties who support the Femi/Wase ticket were awaiting for the inauguration date to cast their votes for the duo.

Read also: ‘Governors will back Gbajabiamila for House Speaker’

Addressing reporters yesterday in Bauchi, the state capital, he said: “You know the House Standing Order provides that the election of the Speaker and deputy should takes precedence over any other business on the day of inauguration. I can confidently tell you that nearly two-thirds of us are voting for Femi and Wase as Speaker and Deputy Speaker on June 11.

“By law, we need a minimum of just 181 members to succeed but with the bi-partisan approach the campaign has adopted, we comfortably have far more than that.

“Femi Gbajabiamila is a humble lawmaker who believes in constructive engagement and dialogue. You may be surprised to see him become the Speaker unopposed because he is aggressively taking the campaign to the doorstep of only one aspirant still in the race. Quite a number of aspirants have stepped down for him.”