10th Speaker: We are not bother over adoption of open ballot voting- ‘G7’ member

By Femi Ogunshola

Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau), a member of the ‘G-7’ says his group remained unruffle in spite change in the House rule that now allowes open ballot voting.

Gagdi, the Chairman, House Committee on Navy said this while speaking with newsmen on sundry issues ahead of the June 5 inauguration of 10th National Assembly in Abuja.

This is coming against the backdrop of recent agitation over plot to doctor the House of Reps Standing Order 10th edition which adopt open ballot voting.

This was allegedly aimed at compelling members-elect to openly declare the names of their nominees during the election of the presiding officers.

The lawmaker said, in whatever manner the election was going to take, the G-7 were not bothered or scared, adding that such moved had it disadvantage and advantage to both parties.

The G7 are a group of aspirants for the 10th National Assembly speaker, opposed to the consensus candidate the APC chose. 

Members of the group are Reps. Ahmed Wase, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Sada Soli, Sani Jaji, Miriam Onuhoa, Aliyu Betara and Gagdi.

Gagdi said what would befall the fate of opposition parties that would conspired against their own party’s directive to vote for the rulling party adopted candidate might not be savoury.

”Look at the composition of the house, the opposition has 182 put together, while the rulling APC has 178, in the circumstances, the comfortable majority we do not have as the rulling party.

“You think the 182 will not be scared of their governors and leaders who already gave them instruction regarding who becomes the speaker, ” he queried.

He said the consequences of the open ballot would affect all group, adding that with this, the G-7 would be good to go in whatever way the house wanted to approach the election.

NAN reports that the rules, refered to as the 10th edition,  has a new provision for electing the Speaker and Deputy through an open ballot instead of the existing rule of secret ballot  that has been in use since 1999.

Section 2 (f) (iii) of the controversial  clause read this: “election of presiding officers ” every member voting shall name clearly and in the open the candidate of his choice.”

Meanwhile, a former Clerk of the House of Reps, Mr Gani Ojagbohunmi has confirmed that voting during the election of the two presiding officers of the Senate and House of Reps, were usually through secret ballot.