•Speaker plots taking 20 APC Reps to rival party


•Ruling party awaits defectors from Benue, Ekiti

by Samuel Adesanya

The battle for the control of the House of Representatives by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is gathering steam following the expected formal defection of Speaker Yakubu Dogara to the opposition party.

Dogara who has ceased to identify publicly with the APC for some time now was, on Thursday, presented with PDP’s nomination form by some of his constituents from Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency in Bauchi State.

The APC remains the majority party in the House with members putting its strength between 181 and 192 and that of the PDP at between 156 and 165.

APGA and ADC have five members each, SDP has two while UPP and Accord have one each while one seat is vacant.

Although the two chambers of the National Assembly are currently on recess, The Nation gathered that key players in the APC and the PDP are doing everything possible to ensure that their party is in control of the House till the end of the eighth session of the NASS.

Sources said about 20 APC Reps who are loyalists of the Speaker are willing to switch camps with him once he moves.

The aim is to make the PDP the majority party in the House so that Dogara can retain his position as Speaker.

The APC is nothing relenting either.

Sources said the party is determined to retain its majority in the House and is expecting a sizeable number of PDP defectors mainly from Ekiti and Benue States.

Sources close to Dogara believe it will be difficult to remove him in view of the sheer number of votes required to do so.

Section 50 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended stipulates that two-thirds or 240 votes in the 360-seat House of Representatives are required to remove the Speaker.

Though, the Leader of the House and of the APC Caucus, Femi Gbajabiamila has maintained silence on the matter, a number of APC lawmakers feel that Dogara should not be sitting on the chair of the Speaker when the House returns from its current recess.

When asked to express his reaction to Dogara’s defection and the next steps being contemplated, Gbajabiamila only sent a terse text message: “No comment for now.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/dogara-apc-pdp-in-fresh-battle-for-house-control/


Cc lalasticlala

Let the games begin. I definitely know APC can't do shiiiit. Blood suckers.

All abt demselves

until more stringent regulations are place on cross carpeting, there will be no loyalty to party policies...

If no be Saraki and Dogora, wetin Buhari and APC for use our eyes see ehn...

Karma is a biitch. As it was with Tambuwal, so will it be with Dogara.

Waiting on Adams and lie Mohammed as to who would first shout.

Lerio:
Waiting on Adams and lie Mohammed as to who would first shout.

You know this people very well. But I am betting the monkey cum dog to win.

Don't ask me who the person is.

If you know, you know.

lol. and now the Deputy speaker has joined his Speaker to PDP.. APC will kuku join them to PDP

Make the bomb their selves I no care even a bit
Rubbish of a political system

G

G

Oshiomole over to you.

Time shall tel

season 2 will soon start.

Karma has everyone's house address

I wonder how President Jonathan will be feeling in these days of defection.

For want of better thing. Oshiomhole has no other business but fight here and there

Karma has everyone's house address

I wonder how President Jonathan will be feeling in this days of defection.

If they like they should kill themselve's, as for me; I cant die for any politician.

uniqueboi:
Let the games begin. I definitely know APC can't do shiiiit. Blood suckers.

Oya wait and see

PDP POWER. GAME ON.

This their fight don dey hold our economy down......inec budget,una never sign,funds for ministries una never sign.they should know that nation's interests comes first.

That short devil will start ranting again.....

APC is so frustrated

#PDP Revolution.

Nopeace4dwicked:
Time shall tel

Sai Baba till 2023

i no understand this constitution things walahi



anyhow it comes BUHARI must smell toilet b4 Friday and Smell Prison after 2019

Sai Baba. They can never derail your good work. Carry on reinventing Nigeria. Buhari till 2023.