House Speakership Not For Old Members Only – Member-Elect

 

                   A House of Representatives member-elect,  Hon.  Philip Shaibu of Edo State, has vowed to challenge the house’s standing rule that bars newly elected members from vying for Speakership of the lower chamber.The seemingly imposition of principal officers of the National Assembly by All Progressives Congress (APC) has been described as the beginning of crisis in the National Assembly.
The lawmaker told Daily Independent during the induction certificate programme for newly elected legislators by the National Institute for Legislative Studies in Abuja that the amendment of the section of the rule was intended to perpetrate some in leadership positions.

He argued that having been a chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business at the state Assembly for over seven years, he knew it was wrong to reserve speakership position to old members only.
He said the best option to weld a stronger relationship between the old and the newly-elected members is to ensure a level playing ground for all interested candidates to participate in the election process.
Shaibu, however, advised the leadership of the House  against taking advantage of their position so as to avoid rancour in the house.
The Lawmaker who made it clear that he was not interested in contesting any leadership position declared however that his decision to challenge the constitutionality of the house standing rules is based on the fact that the exercise is anchored on selfish motive.