The race for the position of Speaker of House of Representatives seems to have gone the way of former minority leader in the 7th house of Representatives ,Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, representing Surulere Federal constituency 1 of Lagos State as he emerged the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidate for the office of speaker.
Gbajabiamila who emerged the party’s candidate through a primary election polled 154 votes out of 161 valid votes to beat his closet rival, Hon Yakubu Dogara who scored 3 votes . Hon Mohammed Munguno ( Borno State) emerged the party’s sole candidate for the deputy speaker.
However, the emergence of Gbajabiamala has further divided the House as members of Dogara group had earlier walk-out of the primary alleging imposition by the party leadership. They accused the party leadership of bias and imposition.
Announcing the result of the primary , national secretary of the APC, Alhaji Mai Malla Buni said the process was in line with the party’s principle of internal democracy.
The meeting which was called by the national leadership of the party in Abuja to adopt a particular candidate after series of retreat was tension soaked as members who were opposed to the party’s position engaged in a shouting match with those said to have favoured the party’s action
However, Hon Yakubu Dogara, a strong contender to the speakership position stormed out of the meeting exactly 2 pm defying the heavy rain .
Speaking to journalists on behalf of the Dogara camp shortly after walking out of the meeting with 19 members of his group, Hon Jubril. Adulmumin who stepped down for Dogara faulted the party’s arrangement, saying that they were not prepared for a primary election.
Briefing journalists earlier, National Publicity secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the party cannot afford to go to the floor of the National Assembly with two candidates , noting that the supremacy of the party will prevail on the choice of the principal officers of the National Assembly.
He said the party adopted election process among the National Assembly members-elect to choose their candidate, adding that whoever emerges automatically becomes the party’s candidate.
