Reps Committees Fallout: Storm Gathers In APC As Speaker Jets Out

The introduction of the House of Representatives’ standing committees last week appears to have incited resentment and conflict inside both the upper chamber and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Under mounting criticism, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas left the nation in a private plane.

Most high-ranking party members and followers of Hon. Murktar Betara and Idris Wase were either excluded entirely or demoted to insignificant committees, according to a source within the party, during the purportedly coordinated and imposed selection process for the Speaker from the presidential palace.

While Betara, a leading candidate for speaker, withdrew 48 hours before the House’s inaugural session, Wase ran against Abbas and lost, receiving only a meager three votes.

However, a source at the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling APC revealed to our correspondent that since the Speaker announced the committees, the NWC has received multiple objections from lawmakers who are senior party leaders.

However, he said that no one was prepared to inform Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president, of this due to what he called “the need to avoid trouble”.

Since last Thursday, when the Speaker revealed the standing committees, the party source claimed they have received a number of complaints and heard a number of comments.

In order to avoid a conflict with the new power group, which is determined to be in charge, the party leadership is likely to keep quiet, the speaker said.

“But we are worried that there appears to be a gathering storm because if care is not taken and our lawmakers are not appeased and they move against the House leadership, we might find it difficult to contain and stop at any point,” the source, who did not want his name published, added. If it persists for too long and snowballs into other issues, it could get worse for us.

How is it possible that the speaker gives the majority of appetizing committees to the South West, particularly Lagos? Obviously, someone from the villa is trying to control the House, but the man should have had the courage to defend himself at times. How can we all remain silent while allowing this to occur in our party? He brought the South West regions of Works, Defense, Finance, and even Agriculture.

He handed the opposition a seat on a crucial body like Petroleum Upstream, doesn’t that demonstrate insensitivity? Do we intend to make our party more vulnerable to the opposition? In all honesty, we are alarmed and troubled. Currently, there are roughly 84 legislators who are not chairman, deputy chairs, nor members of so-called friendship groups.

The fact that some people who supported Betara or Wase but later voted for Abbas are being victimized by the same forces is even worse. We are aware that the Appropriations Committee chairman is under increasing pressure to include the disgruntled lawmakers since they seem helpless.

However, according to House custom, a person from each state must serve on the Appropriations Committee and is not permitted to lead or serve as a committee’s deputy. Some astute people who anticipated what was to come chose to serve on the Appropriation Committee, although there is currently demand to grow the committee. The House will be shaken by the consequences of all of these.