TheCable

The APC South-East Renaissance Group (ASERG) has asked the ruling party to zone the speakership of the ninth house of representatives to the south-east.

Although, APC has already endorsed Femi Gbajabiamila, house leader, for the position, some lawmakers from the party have indicated interest to contest for the position.

Some of those in the race are Abdulrazak Namdas from Adamawa; Mohammed Bago, from Niger; and Nkireuka Onyejocha from Abia.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Chris-Lance Onyemechara, convener of ASERG, said the politics of exclusion did not yield much political dividends for APC in the south-east during the general election.

Onyemechara said in 2015, the APC denied the south-east principal offices on grounds that it did not have ranking members.

“Four years after, we have produced two ranking members and now our party seems set to shift the goal post again,” he said.

“From established political norms and antecedents, in the spirit of natural justice and equity, what we thought our party would have naturally bequeathed us the senate presidency or the speakership of the house of representatives are now subjects of political contention and controversy.

“The politics of exclusion did not work, why don’t we try the politics of inclusion.

“And under the circumstance, the best way to start, is to zone the speakership of the house of representatives to the south-east.”

The convener called on APC members from other geo-political zones seeking to hold the office of the speaker to withdraw from the race.

“Our demand is simple – zone the speakership of the house of representatives to the south-east,” he said.