BENJAMIN Kalu, a returning member of the House of Representatives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia state has emerged the Deputy Speaker unopposed.
Confirming that there were no other nominations for the position, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Tambuwal, swore in Kalu as Deputy Speaker immediately.
Kalu takes over from the Deputy Speaker of the 9th National Assembly, Idris Wase.
The emergence of Kalu followed the election of a member from Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker of the Green Chamber.
Abbas defeated Wase and Aminu Jaji in a voice vote on Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Abbas scored 352 votes of the total 359 votes cast while Jaji and Wase polled three votes each.
In the just-concluded elections, the ruling APC secured over 170 of the 360 seats in the green chamber, the highest by any party. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with over 100 seats, the Labour Party (LP) with over 35 seats, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) with about 20.
Many APC lawmakers had indicated interest to emerge the next Speaker of the House. They include Wase, Jaji, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Yusuf Gagdi, Aliyu Betara, Abdulraheem Olawuyi, Princess Onuoha, amongst others but all others stepped down with the exception of Wase and Jaji.
Earlier, Senator Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State was elected the President of the 10th National Assembly after he defeated Senator Abdul’aziz Yari.
Meanwhile, Senator Jibrin Barau, who represents Kano North Senatorial District, also emerged unopposed as Senate Deputy President, succeeding Ovie Omo-Agege.
