A group, South-East Consultative Initiative (SECI), has backed the candidature of Femi Gbajabiamila for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It said the current Leader of the House, has all it takes to oversee a viable and responsive House of Representatives required to take the country to the next level.

The group stated this in a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Nnaji Paschal and Secretary, Dr. Offia Sunday on Saturday at the end of its General Meeting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital.

It also dissociated itself from the Speakership ambition of Mr Emeka Nwajiuba.

Nwajiuba defeated incumbent Chike Okafor to clinch the Ehimembano/ihitte Uboma/Obowo /Okigwe South Federal Constituency seat.

Nwajuba got his certificate of return Monday in Abuja from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He was a member of the House between 1999 and 2003 making him a ranking member.

But SECI argued that Nwajiuba is not a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC and thus should not be given the position.

"'He is not even from the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) but from the Accord Party"'.

The group described Gbajabiamila as a team player and selfless politician with the requisite knowledge to pilot the affairs of the 9th House of Representatives.

"The humane and selfless way he took his failed bid for the plum job in 2015 is still fresh in our minds. He humbled himself to take the House Leader position and worked harmoniously with Speaker Yakubu Dogara and by so doing reunited the House".

"We feel that having made such sacrifice for the interest of peace and development of the House and the country at large, it is now time for his colleagues to reward him for his sacrifices by electing him to lead them"

The group stated that though Nwajiuba is a ranking member by virtue of having been in the House from 1999 to 2003, he may not have the required knowledge to lead the house.

"It’s been 16 years since he was last in the house, his knowledge of the inner workings of the house as regards lawmaking and management of the house will be at best minimal and at the other extreme archaic and outdated.

"The art of lawmaking like other facets of human endeavor is ever evolving and one fears that Mr Nwajiuba may not be in tune with the recent techniques and innovations in lawmaking even though he may be a ranking member".

"Gbajabiamila, on the other hand, is an institution when it comes to experience in the National Assembly, having been part of the leadership of the 8th House of Representatives which is rounding off," the group said.

Update news