By DADA AYOKHAI
The duo of Prof. Julius Ihonbvere and Hon. Peter Akpatason are among the top contenders for the remaining top principal offices in the 10th House of Representative.
Both men represent the Owan and Akoko Edo federal constituencies in the House and as ranking members are, therefore, qualified to contest for the remaining principal positions.
The top slots in the House, the Speaker and his Deputy have already gone elsewhere, precisely to the North West and the South East respectively, going by the APC’s zoning arrangement.
Either way, however, the Edo North senatorial district will have something to latch onto by the time the House resumes full plenary in July
Hon. Akpatason representing the Akoko Edo federal constituency is doing his fourth time in the House.
During the electioneering campaign, , he had boasted that his fourth coming was going to pave the way for him to become the House Deputy Speaker.
Sensing that he has completely lost out in the high-wired political power play, the former trade union leader turned politician, quickly made a U-turn and is now eyeing to either retain his old principal post of Deputy Majority Leader or settle for something bigger, like the post of the Majority Leader of the House.
In the case of Prof. Ihonbvere, a second-term member of the House and also a former SSG the time is ripe to go for the brook and grab a top principal post, at least to make his stay in the House worth its while.
The former university lecturer turned politician is reported to have his eyes fixated on one of the available top positions in the House.
Close associates of the Owan-born politician who served as chairman of the House Committee on Education in the last dispensation said he is quite influential within the state and national political circles to be able to have his way.
They also recalled the key role he played in the emergence of the leadership of the House in the last dispensation, adding he only needs to press a few buttons here and there to realize his ambition
So far, he has refused to share with anyone the particular principal post he is eyeing, including his close allies. Instead, he has kept mute and has gone about his business in a most discrete manner .
Sources privy to the amiable professor of history and international relations said he has been talking to the leaders of the party at both the state and national levels and in due course, the dividends of the talks would manifest.
