There will be some changes in the leadership of the House of Representatives as the lower chamber of the National Assembly resumes on Tuesday after the Christmas/New Year break.
Spokesman for the House,. Zakari Mohammed, gave this indication in Kaiama, Kwara State, shortly after a meeting with some politicians in Kaiama Local Government area.
Besides the changes, Zakari also disclosed that about 10 representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are set to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as soon as the legislators reconvene.
“The House is set for a major shake-up upon reconvening from the Christmas and New Year break on Tuesday”, Zakari said and listed the offices to be affected as those of the Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip, among others.
Mohammed, who represents Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency in the House explained that the changes became necessary given growing population strength of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the lower house, thus relegating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the minority at the Green Chamber.
He said further: “As it stands today, as I talk to you now, we have (APC) 172, PDP is 167 and the rest which is 20 to 22 belongs to the other parties. So, I believe that by the special grace of God when we resume, we’re going to have other members coming to the APC when the position of the Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip would be repositioned to the APC.
“We have about 10 members who are coming into the APC as soon as we resume on Tuesday, January 21” .
Asked why the APC did not contest the Speakership and Deputy Speakership since it is now in a majority, Zakari explained that it is a constitutional issue which had nothing to do with population strength.
“The Speakership and Deputy Speakership is a constitution position; you don’t necessarily have to be in the majority to be Speaker in the House”, he said.
