There are strong indications that the loyalists to Yakubu Dogara have conceded the position of House Leader to Femi Gbajabiamila.
Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila
The crisis rocking the House of Representatives may just be over as there are indications that loyalists to the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara have conceded the position of House Leader to Femi Gbajabiamila.
Following a meeting which held Tuesday evening between Dogara and some members of the House, with the immediate past Speaker and current governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal in Abuja, some concessions were made, says sources.
Prior to the meeting, the House had been embroiled in turmoil since Dogara emerged Speaker against the directive of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, which supported Gbajabiamila for the position.
After losing the speakership election, the party again nominated Gbajabiamila, who was the Minority Leader in the 7th House as Majority Leader, a proposal the members loyal to Dogara rejected.
A member of the House who attended Tuesday’s meeting, informed PREMIUM TIMES that lawmakers had insisted that on the choice of principal officers of the House,“equity and fair play should be the dominant consideration”, a concession which has led to the acceptance of Gbajabiamila.
The House member also said, “Considering the constitutional requirement of equitable representation and federal character, such candidate should be from any zone other than the North East and South West Zones that had already produced the Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively”.
As at press time, we were yet to get a confirmation, but if this concession pulls through, peace may finally find it's way into the House of Representatives again.