Speaker Anita Among
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has broken her silence on the emerging race for the Speakership of the 12th Parliament, dismissing Justice Minister Norbert Mao’s bid and insisting that he lacks the numbers to mount a serious challenge.
The contest has so far attracted five candidates, including Mao, who formally declared his intention to vie for the position on Tuesday. Among is seeking to retain the speakership seat she assumed in 2022 following the death of Jacob Oulanyah.
Reacting to Mao’s declaration, Among reportedly downplayed his chances, arguing that he does not command sufficient support within Parliament.
“I have followed up with Rt Hon Anita Among, asking her if she now acknowledges there is a speakership race given that Mao has declared interest; she replied, ‘even the MPs on the DP ticket are not his,’” said Nelson Kapo Bwire, a close ally of the Speaker. “She added, ‘you get it!?’”
The remarks suggest confidence within Among’s camp that Mao, who leads the Democratic Party and currently serves as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, does not have firm backing even among legislators affiliated with his own party.
This is not the first time Among has played down Mao’s political threat. In earlier comments, she said the Justice Minister did not pose a serious challenge to her leadership of the House.
The race for Speaker of the 12th Parliament is expected to intensify in the coming weeks as political camps mobilize support ahead of the new parliamentary term.
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