Arewa women and youth groups led by Movers and Shakers Organisation of Nigeria and Northern Emancipation Network Tuesday rejected the All Progressives Congress (APC) endorsement of Femi Gbajabiamila as speaker of the 9th House of Representatives instead backed the candidacy Nkiruka Onyejeocha.

Describing her as the right person to lead the House, the groups expressed surprised that the leadership of the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari failed to see the potential risk they took by openly endorsing the adoption of candidates drawn from particular zones to the exclusion of other zones of the federation with equal entitlement.

The groups comprising Movers and Shakers Organisation of Nigeria, Northern Emancipation Network, Northern Women Political Canvassers, Arewa Students League for Justice, North for Peace and Unity, Network for Women Support, Arewa Youth Stakeholders Forum and Civic Education for Grassroot Mobilization, said this Tuesday in Kaduna.

Spokesperson of the groups Ruqayya Sani said the South-east was the best slot for the speaker of the house in line with federal character arrangement.

“For the sake of fairness, justice and equity, we believe that the South-east is more eminently qualified for the slot of the speaker of the House of Representatives in compliance with the nation’s federal character principle. And in conformity with the global demand for affirmative action, we strongly recommend that a female member of the House should be given the position.

“In this regard, after due consideration and assessment of all possible candidates from the South-east, we are convinced that Mrs Nkiruka Onyejeocha, representing the Isuikwato/ Umunneochi federal constituency, Abia state, is by whatever criteria competent to take up that responsibility.

“We hereby declare support for Honourable Nkiruka Onyejeocha to be nominated and urge all independent-minded members to support and eventually elect her as the new House of Representatives Speaker in a transparent democratic process.

“We also commit ourselves to champion her course across the entire northern region and to reach out to other relevant stakeholders and like-minded groups and individuals across the country as we see Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha as a symbol of hope for women, hope for the younger generation, hope for unity and hope for the future,” she added.