Kalu withdraws from speakership race and settles for deputy position zoned to the southeast

ABIA State lawmaker Hon Benjamin Kalu representing the Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives has withdrawn from the race to become speaker and instead opted for the position of deputy instead.

After what appears to be a decision by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the speakership to the northwest geo-political zone, Hon Kalu has decided to abide by the party's zoning formula. Hon Kalu, who has been re-elected for a second term, will be the only APC lawmaker from Abia State in the 10th House after the political tsunami created by the Labour Party.

Launching his campaign last month, he said: “Nigerians are looking for a speaker that will increase what I call parliamentary sovereignty, where the motions, resolutions and independence of the arm of the government would be showcased. Because the ninth assembly has maintained its independence,  we need somebody that will toe the path and sustain that independence."

Over the last week, however, president-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been involved in s series of meeting with members of both houses of the National Assembly, where it appears that the party has agreed on the leaders of the two chambers. From all indications, Senator Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State has been agreed upon as the senate president, while Hon Abbas Tajudeen from Kaduna State has been adopted as the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Withdrawing from the race, Hon Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, thanked his supporters who have been behind him. He further applauded the APC for nominating him for the position of deputy speaker.

Hon Kalu said: "I wish to extend my gratitude and appreciation to all who have tirelessly supported my candidacy for the speakership position of the 10th Assembly. I believed this position was ideal for the southeast region, as it has not produced a speaker in the last 40 years.

"However, as a firm believer in party supremacy, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy for the speakership position and fully accept the nomination for the position of deputy speaker of the 10th assembly in line with the directives of our party the All Progressives Congress. This decision aligns with the party’s commitment to fairness, equity and inclusiveness in all of its leadership selection processes.”