by Ranti Joseph

Someone is definitely not telling the truth or both are lying.

Member of the House of Representatives, representing Bendel Federal Constituency, Abia State in the Nigeria’s lower national legislative chamber, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, has denied demanding an assurance that she be appointed chairperson of the Appropriation Committee of the House before supporting any member eyeing the position of Speaker in the coming 8th Assembly.

Minority leader of 7th assembly and one of the leading contenders for the position of the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, while addressing members-elect of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday, had accused Ukeje of demanding that she be assured of the sensitive position before supporting his ambition.

Gbajabiamila, was reacting to an earlier statement allegedly made by Mrs. Ukeje that he said a national leader of All Progressives congress, Bola Tinubu, had assigned all the House committees already to respective chairpersons.

Ukeje, when contacted by PremiumTimes said although she and Gbajabiamila had met, it was untrue that she ever requested Appropriation Committee chairmanship.

“I met with Femi Gbaja like every other representative to the 8th House of Assembly from whom he is seeking support. He sent me text message like any other person. I can forward that to you,” she said.

“Appropriation Committee has to do with Mathematics but I don’t have background in that. More so, I am not a member of APC. So as a PDP, opposition party, member, I have nothing to do with Appropriation Committee. So you should know what he is saying is not true.

“It will be foolish of me to ask him or anybody for that matter when I know I can never get it as an opposition party member. I don’t want to join any issue with Gbaja. He can continue to say what he likes,” she added.