9th Assembly: Female lawmaker, Onyejeocha, shows interest in becoming House Speaker

A female lawmaker under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Okeiruka Onyejeocha, Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, on Monday, declared her intention to contest the post of Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, assuring that she was confident of winning if eventually zoned to the South-East by the party.

The lawmaker who is repressing Isiukwuato/ Umunneochi federal constituency of Abaia State is a fourth timer in the House elected on the platform of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the only female contestant so far in the race.

She promised to make use of her wealth of experience gathered over the years to make a difference in the coming 9th session of the National Assembly despite being a female

The lawmaker disclosed that she decided to make her intention public after wide and due consultations and that she was overwhelmed with supports she received from the various quarters

This is coming just her ambition received a boost from some civil society organizations yesterday as a human rights and advocacy group, Coalition of South East Civil Society and Human Rights Organizations is drumming support for the candidacy of Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who’s the only female in the race so far.

In a statement signed by Jasper Uche and comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike who are the conveners,  the rights groups said the All Progressives Congress (APC), being a national party should consider geographical spread and gender balance in allocating political positions to deserving members in line with what the United States just did recently with the election of a female speaker, Nancy Pelosi.

Nkeiruka, according to the group is a “tested hand in legislative matters judging from her contributions in the last 12 years as a legislator in the green chamber with numerous legislative accomplishments which include the Anti-Turture Act, 2017, Compulsory Treatment and Care for Gun Shot Victims Act 2017, Local Government Autonomy Bill which was merged with the constitution amendment bills, to mention but a few”.

The group which further described the lawmaker as “a woman of strong character” also said, “she has to her credit a clean record in public office, and her achievement as current House Committee chairman in Aviation speaks volume”.

“Her grassroots appeal and her interpersonal relationship with other legislators is a great asset to the APC and the country at large”, the group noted.