Wase meets with Buhari, says he’s still in speakership race 

Idris Wase, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, on Friday, met with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The meeting was held at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Wase said he is still in the race for the speakership of the 10th assembly.

Wase said he has not stepped down or withdrawn for any candidate in the race.

“I am in the race, and by the grace of God, I am going to conclude the race. I have not withdrawn or stepped down for anybody,” he said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had anointed Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu as the preferred candidates for the positions of speaker and deputy.

The nominations have been rejected by from six aspirants who have allied to ensure the speaker is elected from among them.

Wase said the party’s decision contradicts section 14(4) of the 1999 constitution.

He maintained that the section states the composition of the government of the federation, including its agencies, should reflect the federal character of Nigeria.

The lawmaker said the section was enshrined in the constitution to foster national cohesion and prevent people from certain states or ethnic groups from dominating government offices.

The legislator said he and his colleagues in the race share the same line of thought against the APC zoning arrangement.

“I am not just speaking for myself,” he added.

Wase said the APC didn’t consult other speakership aspirants in the race before settling for a preferred candidate.

He said the party’s move was anti-democratic, noting that it would be resisted.