A federal lawmaker representing Doguwa/Tundun Wada Federal constituency of Kano State, Alhassan Doguwa, who is currently facing a murder trial, has declared his intention to join the race for the 10th House of Representatives speakership seat.
In a letter of intent addressed to Members-elect on Sunday, Doguwa expressed his desire to contest for the office of the Speaker of the House.
Doguwa stated in his letter: “I want to use this opportunity to communicate my desire to contest for the office of the Speaker of the House. My passion for nation-building has fuelled my desire to seek this office at this critical time when various divergent views of governance exist in different zones in the nation.”
The lawmaker is currently facing trial over sundry allegations bordering on conspiracy to commit murder, arson, mischief, illegal possession of firearm and public unrest, levelled against him by the Kano State Police Command, having been arrested and remanded in prison custody for days before posting a N500 million bail with two sureties.
Specifically, the police had detained Doguwa over alleged complicity in the killing of three members of his constituency after the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly elections in which Doguwa was a candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The police prosecutor in the case informed the court that Doguwa allegedly committed the offence on February 26, in the Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State.
The incident was a result of a violent confrontation between members of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which led to the killing of three people and the burning of a campaign office of the opposition party in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano.
On April 28, a Kano State High Court granted leave for a process that would compel the Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Musa Abdullahi Lawan, to immediately file charges against Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and others for alleged conspiracy over culpable homicide.
The High Court, presided over by Justice Maryam Sabo Mni, granted a Kano retired Chief Magistrate, Muntari Garba Dandago, to apply for order of mandamus to compel Kano number one judicial officer to execute his functions.
In her ruling, Justice Sabo Mni upheld that “leave is hereby granted to the applicant to apply for the issuance of an order of mandamus against the respondent, that is Attorney-General of Kano State, compelling him to exercise his power under section 211 of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to immediately file a charge against Alhassan Ado Doguwa and his conspirators for the offences of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, mischief, incitement of public disturbance and possession of firearms before a court of competent jurisdiction.”
Despite the ongoing development, Doguwa who had since been quiet as an onlooker in the Speakership race, suddenly wrote his colleagues a letter of intent declaring his intention to contest for the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The lawmaker was granted bail by Judge Yunusa Muhammad in the sum of N500m, with the condition that he provides two sureties, one of whom must be a first-class traditional ruler, while the other must be a permanent secretary at the federal or state civil service.
The embattled Majority Leader has now joined the race for the 10th House of Representatives speakership, becoming the latest aspirant to declare interest in the position. He will be competing against several others who have also declared their interests.
Those already campaigning for the coveted seat are the incumbent Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), Sada Soli Jibia (APC, Katsina), Muktar Betara Aliyu (APC, Borno), Tunji Olawuyi (APC, Kwara), Abubakar Makki (APC, Jigawa), Tajudeen Abbas (APC, Kaduna), Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara), Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia), and Miriam Onuoha (APC, Imo).