Writing by Ibrahim Suleiman;Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
A coalition of Zaria-based groups and members of opposition political parties have endorsed the Speaker, House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, for another term in office.
The coalition made its position known at a World Press Conference in Zaria, Kaduna State, where it said the endorsement followed an assessment of development projects and engagements with communities across the Zaria Federal Constituency.
According to the coalition the decision was based on measurable achievements recorded in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and youth development.
Speaking at the conference, the Convener Mal. Alhassan Ishak Alhassan said the coalition had deliberately chosen to remain objective by questioning the Speaker on areas requiring improvement while acknowledging projects and interventions considered beneficial to the constituents.
Mallam Alhassan Ishak explained that the coalition had earlier convened the Zaria Youth, Peace and Development Roundtable, bringing together elders, academics, professionals, youth leaders, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and political stakeholders to assess development across the constituency.
He pointed out that the assessment showed that 96 out of 160 primary schools in the constituency had been renovated, while healthcare interventions included the provision of more than 1,520-bed capacity facilities across the eight local government areas.
The coalition also disclosed that 78 community road projects had been initiated, with 28 completed, 25 under construction and another 25 captured in the 2026 budget.
Malam Ishak further cited the ongoing construction of a technology incubation centre at Nagoyi as well as agricultural interventions including the distribution of more than 200 truckloads of fertilizer and over 70 tractors to farmers.
The group, however, acknowledged areas requiring further attention, including maintenance of completed projects, quality assurance, transparency, greater community participation and speedy completion of ongoing projects.
The convener maintained that the coalition’s endorsement was not intended as political propaganda but was the outcome of consultations, observation, project assessments and engagements with people across the constituency.
He stressed that the decision to support the Speaker for another term was informed by the need to sustain ongoing projects and ensure that institutions and development initiatives already established in the constituency become fully operational.
The coalition also pledged to continue holding elected representatives accountable, stressing that endorsement would not prevent it from asking questions, offering constructive criticism and demanding value for public resources.
