The lawmaker representing Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, has been elected as the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives. Abbas, who is the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), won the election by a wide margin, securing 204 votes out of the 360 members of the House.
Abbas defeated his fellow contenders – Ahmed Wase and Sani Jaji, who polled three votes each.
Abbas was nominated by Alhassan Doguwa from Kano State and seconded by Nkeiruka Onyejeocha from Abia State. Wase was nominated by Abdulmumin Jibrin from Kano State and seconded by Aminu Suleiman from Kano State. Jaji was nominated by Umar Bago from Niger State and seconded by Mark Gbillah from Benue State.
Abbas’ victory was greeted with jubilation by his supporters and party members, who described him as a visionary leader and a unifying factor in the House. He was sworn in by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambuwal, who presided over the session.
Abbas will be assisted by Idris Wase from Plateau State, who emerged as the Deputy Speaker unopposed. Wase was nominated by Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos State and seconded by Abdulrazak Namdas from Adamawa State.
The election of the House leadership started at 10 a.m., amid tight security. The members-elect cast their votes in an open ballot system, using electronic voting machines. The votes were counted by two representatives of each team.
Abbas, who was born on June 12, 1971, is a medical doctor and a seasoned politician who has served in various capacities at both state and federal levels. He was the Commissioner for Health in Kaduna State from 2007 to 2010, where he initiated several health policies and programmes that improved the quality of health care delivery in the state.
He was also the Chairman of Zaria Local Government Area from 2010 to 2012, where he implemented several developmental projects and programmes that enhanced the welfare of his people.
He was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2015, where he served as the Chairman of the Committee on Special Duties. He was re-elected in 2019 and 2023, where he continued to champion the cause of his constituency and the nation at large.
Abbas is married to Hajiya Aisha Tajudeen Abbas, who is a lawyer and a human rights activist. They have four children.
Abbas has promised to work with his colleagues and other arms of government to deliver good governance and dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
He has also pledged to uphold the independence and integrity of the House, while maintaining cordial relationships with the executive and the judiciary.
He has also assured Nigerians that he will champion the passage of bills that will address the challenges facing the country, such as insecurity, unemployment, poverty, corruption, infrastructure deficit, health crisis, education reform, electoral reform, and constitutional amendment, among others.
He has also expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and APC Leaders for their support and endorsement. He has also thanked his fellow members-elect for their confidence and trust in him. He has also extended his hand of fellowship to his opponents, Wase and Jaji, and other members from other parties, urging them to join him in moving the House and the nation forward.
