We’ve no preferred speakership aspirant yet, says PDP caucus

Caucus of the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives has stated that it is yet to endorse any of the aspirants bidding for speakership of the 9th House as its preferred candidate.

The caucus started engaging the speakership aspirants on Wednesday, with a view to listening to their manifestos.

Minority leader of the house Hon Chukwuka Onyema said after the last appearance was made by Majority Leader Hon Femi Gbajabiamila Thursday that the PDP caucus will “sit down, study and analyze all the submissions, before arriving at a conclusion”. 

He also denied the suggestion that a deal may have sealed with the caucus by any of the aspirants. “I wish I do. I wish I do, but no deal”, he replied while a question was posed on that.

He explained that the caucus has listened to the aspirants, who have separately told members why they wanted to become speaker and how to improve the House, adding that none however felt he or she can scale the hurdle without support of the minority parties.

Earlier, Gbajabiamila after a closed door meeting with the PDP caucus said under him as speaker, “the 9th house will be an improvement on the 8th. It will be a continuous progress until we get to where we ought to be.

According to him, his speakership would be an opportunity for the house to have one man, who have seen a lot, especially form the opposition’s perspective.”I have been there, I mean the opposition, so I know where the shoe pinches”, he said while pledging an all-inclusive leadership if elected speaker.