A member-elect for Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has said that in the coming days, he will be pushing for the People’s Democratic Party PDP and other opposition parties’ endorsement of Tajudeen Abass and Benjamin Kalu as consensus candidates for the positions of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the coming 10th National Assembly.
Ugochinyere, who was elected on the platform of the PDP, expressed happiness that the support of the Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke for the leading aspirants has further boosted the support for the duo from opposition lawmakers-elect.
Governor Adeleke had on Wednesday while receiving Abass and Kalu expressed support for the zoning arrangements of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
He said: “We respect and support the APC zoning formula. I call on you all to support the APC zoning arrangement in the House, and kindly reciprocate our gesture by supporting the PDP agenda in the House. As we are supporting you, support Osun in our desire. We seek the support of the House for the appropriation of fund for the Osun State Airport project, so that the facility can open up our economy.”
In a statement issued on Thursday,
Ugochinyere said Adeleke’s support has increased the main opposition PDP members-elect and other opposition parties’ support to 80 per cent and thereby increasing Abass and Kalu’s chances of winning the presiding offices.
He noted that this has also reduced to the barest minimum the threat by the aggrieved aspirants to the tickets of the APC anointed candidates.
Ugochinyere, who is also the spokesman for the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, however, declared that his support for Abass and Kalu was most importantly based on their competence.
He said: “The coming days are very critical, we have more work to do. We at the Tajudeen Benjamin Kalu, TBK Group will continue meeting more of our colleagues in the opposition parties towards the actualization of Tajudeen, Kalu ambition. The duo doesn’t need any introduction, their qualifications and legislative achievements speak for them.
“However, we ain’t slowing down on our mission, as part of bridge building, peacemaking and in a bid to carry everyone along, we will continue pushing for the endorsement of our colleagues.
“Majority are with us already, at the moment as disclosed to the governor by Abass, over 200 lawmakers, both serving and new are with us. But we will continue reaching out to the others. The success of every democracy rests squarely on the quality of the parliament, hence the need to always have in place a solid legislature with sound players.
“Abass and Kalu are sound players, with the legislative experience and competence to preside over the affairs of the incoming 10th National Assembly. We are optimistic that more members-elect will join the team as time goes on and in the end both lawmakers will emerge victorious.”