BEING A SUMMARY OF POINTS OF DISCUSSION
WITH PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON JULY
1, 2015 BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 174
APC MEMBERS IN THE 8TH HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES

1. On the 9th of June, 2015, 174 APC members in
the House faithfully and loyally followed the
directives of the party to vote for Hon Femi
Gbajabiamila and Hon Mongunu as Speaker and
Deputy Speaker while 39 other APC members
colluded with the opposition party, the PDP, to
elect the current Speaker and Deputy Speaker with
only eight votes superiority. The party directive
was based on the mock primaries conducted for
all aspirants to the two positions.

2. Whereas the candidates of the majority
(Gbajabiamila and Mongunu) openly
congratulated the winners and continued to
cooperate with them in the House, the opposition
and the 39 APC members continued to hold the
APC leadership in contempt.

3. Whereas we the 174 Party faithfuls and loyalists
had been obedient to the Party, what shall be the
reward of our loyalty to the Party?

4. The Party has chosen not to punish the 39 APC
members including the elected Speaker and
Deputy Speaker, but chose to direct, as it is
customary and conventional, on how the other
four (4) Principal Officers should be distributed.
Alas! The opposition and the 39 members
continue to hold the ruling Party in contempt by
disobeying the party.

5. Whereas, the beneficiaries of the disobedience
are citing Federal Character Principle as the main
reason for their disobedience, His Excellency
should note that:

(a) During the 6th Assembly (2007-2011), the
following officers were elected from the NORTH-
WEST (I) The President and Commander in Chief
(ii) Ismaila Kawu (III)Hon Mutawalle. The two
occupied 2 out of the 4 principal officers positions
of the Minority Party (iv) Hon Aminu Tambuwal
was elected Deputy Chief Whip.

(B) Also during the 7th Assembly, the following
officers in Government were elected from the
NORTH-WEST

(I) The Vice President (II) The Speaker, Rt. Hon
Aminu Tambuwal (III) Hon. Ismaila Kawu, Deputy
Minority Leader (IV) Hon. Garba Datti, Deputy
Minority Whip
There was never an issue of Federal Character in
these instances.

6. It should be noted that the Federal Character
principle as embedded in chapter of the 1999
Constitution (as amended) IS NOT JUSTICIABLE
AND OF NO LEGAL CONSEQUENCE. Its provision in
S.14 of the Constitution is only applicable to
appointments in Federal Ministries and Agencies.
The House of Representatives is not an agency of
the Federal Government and the principal officers
positions are elective and not by appointment. If
the Federal Character is applicable to the National
Assembly, then both the Senate President and the
Speaker cannot come from the North, one of them
should be advised to step down.

7. It is noteworthy that Mr. President and the
Governors had strongly put their weight behind
the party and had severally admonished the
House to abide by the party’s position. The 39
APC members in the House continue to collude
with the PDP to flagrantly disobey Mr. President,
the governors and the party with a view to
bringing the Party and Government to ridicule
before Nigerians.

8. The conduct of the 39 APC members colluding
with the PDP is tantamount to affront, ultimately
targeted at polarising our Party so as to give
room for many of them to decamp to the PDP.
9. It is therefore imperative for Mr. President to
take a stand and save the integrity of the Party, by
cautioning, the 39 members, which include the
Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, to respect,
honour and obey our Party Leaders and their
directives.

10. In conclusion, Mr. President, we as loyal Party
members shall continue to abide by the Party
constitution, respect and honour our party leaders
and their directives. We strongly appeal to you to
direct the Speaker to return to our fold and be
truly elected Speaker on APC platform. He should
be directed to announce the other four Party
Principal officers positions as directed by the
party as it has always been the convention.

11. We sincerely appreciate Mr. President for the
audience trusting in his ability to successfully
mediate so as to save our great party, the APC,
from further embarrassment.

www.punchng.com/news/gbajabiamilas-presentation-to-buhari/

WOW, JST INCASE

ok

They should settle this impasse and lets move forward.

We would look into it. Is that all?