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9th NASS: Abia APC backs Rep Onyejiocha for Speaker, canvasses support


The Abia state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the leadership of the National Assembly and the APC to cede the post of Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives to the South-East zone.

The party also backed the decision of Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha, member representing Isiuakwato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia State, to contest the Speakership position of the 9th House of Representatives.

Saga Gist had reported that Nkeiruka Onyejiocha (APC-Abia), Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, had on Monday declared her intention to contest for the post of Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives.

Onyejiocha, who is the only female so far in the contest, made the declaration at a media briefing in Abuja, explaining that she was in the race to improve the lawmaking and to help advance the party’s development policies.

However, the Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, Comrade Benedict Godson, in an interview with reporters, in Umuahia, on Tuesday said, “We believe that by experience, standard, contributions, representation and what have you, Hon. Onyejiocha… We believe, women should be allowed to be fully involved in governance. The women have been clamouring to be part of the leadership of this country. Onyejiocha is suitably qualified for the post of the Speakership of the Federal House of Representatives.

“We are only asking the leadership of our party and National Assembly to please elect Honorable Onyejiocha who is experienced. She has been a local government council boss, a commissioner before she went to the National Assembly. She has been in the federal house for long, currently, this is her fourth term.

“She has done a lot of contributions in terms of bills, based on her experience. She is the most suitable person for the job. We, the Abia state leadership of the party is appealing for support from the National Assembly leadership.

“If you look at the South-East zone, we don’t have a representative for the principal positions in the federal house. We call on members of the house from other regions to support the emergence of the only female federal lawmaker from Abia for posterity sake.”