9th Assembly: Why South East APC should produce next House of Reps speaker – Oguleme

The South East All Progressives Congress, APC, Youths Consultative Forum, has called on the leadership of the party to zone the position of speaker to the zone.

The National Coordinator of the South East APC youths group, Sir Romanus Oguleme told journalists in Abuja that the zone has credible and ranking members of the party in the National Assembly to head any of the two chambers.

He further stated that the zone should not be schemed out in the National Assembly leadership as was experienced in 2019, adding that zoning the speakership to South East was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise of inclusive government. The group argued that the excuse in 2015 that South East APC didn’t have ranking members to be considered for positions of principal officers cannot be used again as the region has two returning members in the House.

According to Oguleme, “We categorically state that the South East has two ranking members of the APC and these two: chairman House Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Chike Okafor and chairperson House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkeiru Onyejeocha are eminently qualified to run for Speaker or to be appointed as principal officers.

“If the performance of both members in the 8th Assembly should be used as criteria, they have proven themselves capable of handling delicate and sensitive assignments.