http://newtelegraphonline.com/the-big-losers/


Bola Tinubu: Cut to size
The former governor of Lagos State is a major factor in the impasse and he was perhaps the biggest promoter of Senator Ahmed Lawan. With his influence, clout and political network, it is unfathomable to imagine that the godfather of South-West politics will lose out ‘cheaply’ in the National Assembly election. After successfully plotting the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate last year, the Jagaban as he is fondly called rallied support for Buhari and the party muscled out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West at the behest of Tinubu during the presidential election.
As a former Senator, Tinubu knows the intricacies involved in the selection of principal officers of the National Assembly but he must have relied on his ‘working strategy’ to work for him again. In fact, he was said to have relocated to Abuja prior to the inauguration of the Assembly yesterday to mobilise support for his anointed candidates, Lawan in the Senate and Femi Gbajabiamila in the House of Representatives.
With the defeat of Lawan and Gbajabiamila and the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Dogara, it appears that the strongman of Lagos politics may have been caged in the national politics. Already, some analysts have insinuated that yesterday’s revolt by APC lawmakers was specifically targeted at Tinubu and not the party per se.
They averred that the overbearing influence of Tinubu should be limited to Lagos and South-West. Clearly, the events of yesterday depict the demystification of the Lion of Bourdillion and he may have been cut to size in the scheme of things at the national level. However, like a cat with nine lives, Tinubu would always bounce back but the big question is when.
Odigie-Oyegun: On Tinubu’s apron
The National Chairman of the APC was directly involved in the scheme of things in the National Assembly. His stand became obvious when the party organised a mock election for its aspirants in the National Assembly election. Regarded as a strong ally of Tinubu, his stance on who becomes the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives could be linked to the choice of the former Lagos governor. Speaking prior to yesterday’s election, Oyegun urged lawmakers aspiring for offices on the platform of the party to respect the rules of the party, stating that “the party’s views and method of doing things should be respected.
All we did was to provide the platform. I want to appeal to APC members of the National Assembly, both Senate and the House of Representatives, to please respect the party, the views of the party and the decision that they themselves took in selecting the persons that will be presented to the National Assembly as presiding officers. “At the House of Representatives level, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and at the Senate level, distinguished Senator Ahmed Lawan.” However, the emerging forces from Oyegun’s party made a mince of the chairman’s anointed team.
Although some averred that Oyegun was only doing the bidding of Tinubu because he has no choice, others believe that the decision of the chairman to get the party involved in the politics of the National Assembly by organising a mock election was the beginning of the party’s humiliation under the watch of Oyegun. Though the APC and Oyegun can still take consolation in the fact that the leaders that emerged in the National Assembly are still members of the party, it’s obvious that the strides and influence of Oyegun may have been deflated in some portions.
Femi Gbajabiamila
But for the outcome of yesterday’s election in the House of Representatives, the former Minority Leader of the House would have been leading the Green Chamber in the newly inaugurated 8th Assembly. There is no doubting his competence, in fact, his rich experience in legislative practice was brought to bear in stabilising the outgone Seventh Assembly.
The 54-year-old lawyer was riding on the back of Tinubu for the coveted seat but that actually cost him the position. Last weekend, Gbajabiamila was adopted as APC’s candidate for the speakership seat after polling 154 votes to Dogara’s three in a straw election organised in Abuja by the APC leadership.
With the backing of the APC structure and his political godfather, Tinubu, the coast seems clear for his emergence. However, at the end of the election conducted in the House of Representatives chamber, Dogara scored 182 votes while Gbajabiamila polled 174. While many have adduced his loss to Tinubu, others believe that his next move would be determined in the days to come.
Ali Ndume: Traded off for PDP
His aspiration for the Deputy Senate President seat appeared unpopular over issues hanging on his neck in the past few years. At the initial stage of strategising, the group drumming support for the candidature of Saraki, “Like Mind Senators” endorsed Ndume to run as Saraki’s deputy.
Ndume, who hails from Borno State, is among the 35 APC senators that endorsed Saraki as Senate President. Prior to his choice as Deputy Senate President, Ndume was a contender for the post of the Senate President but after various negotiations, he dropped his ambition for a Saraki/Ndume ticket. However, in the thick of the horse trading that ensued towards the election, the proposed designation of Ndume was traded off for the PDP and Senator Ike Ekweremadu got the coveted seat. After the election, Ekweremadu emerged as the Deputy Senate President with 54 votes, defeating Ndume who got 20 votes while one senator abstained. Senator Ndume immediately embraced his opponent in an open show of conceding defeat.
Ahmed Lawan:Lost bid for Presidency
His first shot at the Senate Presidency suffered a setback with his loss to Senate President Bukola Saraki. He became the choice of the APC for the seat after Tinubu withdrew his support from Akume to back him. Alongside his supporters, Lawan was absent at the Senate chambers when the election of the Senate President was conducted. With Saraki nomination going unopposed, the Kwara-Central senator emerged unopposed as President of the eighth Senate by 57 of 108 Senators, with 51 Senators, including Lawan, absent. With the tide turned against him and the APC, Lawan, who has been in the National Assembly since 1999, it is only left to be seen how Lawan will fit himself in the scheme of things in the Red Chamber.
George Akume
Another major loser in the contest for leadership of the Red Chamber was Senator Akume, the immediate past Senate Minority Leader. He was tipped by the leadership of the APC for the position of the Deputy Senate President in the eighth National Assembly but the ambition did not see the light of the day. Ekweremadu got the seat. Prior to yesterday’s inauguration of the Senate, Lawan and Akume had, during APC mock election, emerged as the party’s candidates for the office of Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively, but both ambitions hit the rock.