The lawmaker representing Zaria federal constituency of Kaduna State on Tuesday, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Also, the lawmaker representing Bende federal constituency of Abia State, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, was returned unopposed as Deputy Speaker.
Abbas scored 353 votes in the election to defeat the immediate past deputy speaker, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase from Plateau Federal constituency, who scored three votes and Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji from Zamfara also had three votes.
After the election, which was through an open ballot system and voice vote, the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly (DCNA), Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, who presided over tre election, therefore, announced Abbas as the Speaker.
Abbas is the 15th Speaker of the lower chamber of the National Assembly and the second to have emerged at the age of 57 years.
A professional teacher, Abbas who has taught in primary, tertiary, and university holds a Ph.D. in business administration and is the next in line (Iyan Zauzzau) to the throne of the Emir of Zaria.
He sponsored the highest number of bills in the 9th House, 74 in total while 24 had been signed into law by the president.
He was first elected to the House in 2011.
Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu (APC Abia) was unanimously returned unopposed.after the election of Abbas.
Kalu was nominated by the chairman of the House Committee on defense in the 9th Assembly, Hon. Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos), and the nomination was seconded by Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim (APC, Yobe).
Kalu, who was the spokesman for the House in the 9th Assembly is aged 52 having been born on May 5th, 1971. He is a lawyer by profession and is a second time in the House.
Both Abbas and Kalu were the preferred candidates of the ruling APC.
After presenting his inaugural address, Abbas adjourned the House to Tuesday, 14th June.
