The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, on Tuesday in Abuja vowed to stop Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who is the anointed candidate of the majority All Progressives Congress, APC, from becoming the Speaker of Nigeria’s 9th House of Representatives.
Speaking at a press conference attended by about 13 National Chairmen of opposition political parties, Chairman of the Coalition, Barrister Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, claimed that Gbajabiamila has criminal records, hence, he is unfit to lead Nigeria’s lower chamber as a Speaker in the 9th Assembly.
The opposition explained that, “Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has been convicted in the United States over ‘willful dishonesty’.”
While displaying supportive documents, Ugochinyere said: “The man known as Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila in Nigeria was the one and the same person known in the United States of America as Femi Gbaja.
“He was convicted by the Supreme Court of Georgia in the United States for willful dishonesty when he received the insurance claims of one Mrs Barry Hadyatu without her authority; closed down law office in America and ran back to Nigeria.”
The opposition described the APC’s choice of Gbajabiamila as morally wrong, saying that elected members should be free to choose those they want as Speaker.
According to CUPP, they were not interested in who becomes the Speaker, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari must not meddle into the internal affairs of the legislature.
They called for secret balloting system in the election of principal officers, adding that, that has been the practice over the years.
The CUPP further claimed that the FCT High Court has issued a summon to Femi Gbajabiamila to appear in person over criminal proceedings against him on 10th June, 2019.
The opposition said, if Femi failed to appear on that day, though, election of principal officers of both Chambers of the National Assembly would take place about that time, they would not hesitate to ask the court to issue warrant for his arrest.
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