Twenty days to the inauguration of the new government of All Progressives Congress, APC, there is still no sign that the party has reached a compromise on which geopolitical zone of the country that will produce the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Instead, the matter has so rattled the party that two different committees have emerged to broker a ruse amongst zones and forces contending for the position.

It has also thrown up at least two zones and two candidates who are now on a hot race for the position.

They are north east and the south west zones. While Hon. Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi State jostles from the north east, the south west through the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is insisting on the candidacy of the outgoing minority leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos State.

It will be recalled that the party had on May 22 at the Party’s leadership meeting in Abuja appointed a two man committee comprising the president-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of the Party, Chief John Oyegun to resolve the issue when it became obvious that the two zones were at each other’s throat for the office.

But the Buhari/Oyegun committee has not met and if it had, the outcome of the meeting is yet to be made public. But an authentic party source who also shares an affinity with the House of Representatives confided in Saturday Vanguard yesterday that the committee’s willingness to meet for the purpose was poor.

According to him, the president-elect may have since taken a position on the matter which is that the incoming members of the National Assembly should be given the liberty to choose who become their leader without external interferences.

APC yet to formally zone the slot

The issue of zoning offices in APC has a faint recognition and may even be jettisoned. This is even why another member of the House, Hon. Abdulmumini Jubril from Kano State recorded first in launching his interest before any other person.

But his interest could not fly die to the simple reason that he came from the same zone with the president-elect even though he is subtly pushing.

As at yesterday, the party has not officially ceded the slot to any zone and most people believe that is the springboard of the clash of interest currently going on in the party.

With this, the race has almost assumed the dimension of “do-or-die” affair between Dogara and Gbajabiamila who have intensified lobbying among the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s members in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.

A source also told Saturday Vanguard that Tinubu, Gbajabiamila’s backbone is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the south west emerges victorious in the contest.

APC Governors-elect float a peace committee

Meanwhile, to broker a ruse in the imbroglio surrounding the speakership, the newly-elected governors of APC last week set up a 5-man Committee.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the Committee which was obviously a voluntary one was however parallel to Buhari/Oyegun Committee.

The incoming Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai is the Head of the committee with the outgoing House of Representatives Speaker and Governor-elect of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal and the Governor-elect of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong as members.

Though, the mandate of the committee was not specifically mentioned as to whether it would take sides with either of the candidates, it was learnt that its objective was not however unconnected with finding a middle ground so that the looming crisis in the party would be nipped in the bud.

But unfortunately, the committee’s first outing which took place last week Tuesday, Saturday Vanguard gathered ended in deadlock.

It was not ascertained whether they met again this week but expectations are high that the Committee would meet next week.

Dogara’s support base gathers momentum with 286 members on the queue

Meanwhile, while, the intrigues intensified last week, Saturday Vanguard gathered that Dogara’s support base witnessed a rise.

At the moment, 143 members from both APC and PDP have pencilled down their names in support of Dogara. Bulk of the members came from the PDP’s 139 figure.

It was learnt that irrespective of any apparent future pressure, the people have sworn to swim and sink with him.

In addition to this number, Saturday Vanguard source hinted that the camp is also playing a smart game, using the members to bring more to the camp.

To this end, each person among the 143 persons has the mandate of bringing at least one more person.

Should this strategy pay off, it means that the Bauchi State born parliamentarian could be coasting home with 286 votes out of 360 votes of the House’s numerical strength. But nobody is sure.

“If the permutations work out and members return to camp with at least one more member, it then becomes obvious that Dogara has already won Gbaja”, the source said in confidence.

Gbajabiamila seriously networking

Even with Dogara’s game plan, Saturday Vanguard also gathered that his opponent, Gbajabiamila is not relenting.

He is seriously reaching out to both camps as well.

Sources from the national assembly said he wasn’t doing badly in his strategies but according to them, it would be a fierce battle between them.

It was further learnt that no one was had any serious qualms with his candidacy but those behind him.

“Gbaja may be a better candidate but the fear that he may be subservient to one person is a very serious factor many people are considering. He may have the support of the south west lawmakers but I can guarantee him the votes of most PDP members. Anyway, this depends on future developments,” a source said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/house-speakership-tinubus-candidate-faces-fierce-battle-with-dogara/

They shouldnt create problem for themselves.

I don't mind if APC allows the houses choose their leaders. Imposition of house leadership at worst creates bad blood amongst other members and at best makes the leadership an extension of the Excutive arm.

Gbajabiamila never knew he would need PDP Reps any day and now he needs them the most.

The truth is that Gbajabiamila is the most qualified to occupy the post but he lost it by his actions and inactions in the 7th Assembly.

Gbajabiamila has always been an enemy of pdp lawmakers in the house of rep,most especially the out going 7th assembly. If Pdp want to be relevant in decision making of the house,in the next assembly. they should use every possible means within their reach to vote against Gbajabiamila. This will be a pay back time.

IsraeliAIRFORCE:
Gbajabiamila never knew he would need PDP Reps any day and now he needs them the most.

The truth is that Gbajabiamila is the most qualified to occupy the post but he lost it by his actions and inactions in the 7th Assembly.

May actually turn out a blessing for APC and GMB if Gbaja doesn't get it. It's even more interesting that GMB favours no one on this.

yampoo:
Gbajabiamila has always been an enemy of pdp lawmakers in the house of rep,most especially the out going 7th assembly. If Pdp want to be relevant in decision making of the house,in the next assembly. they should use every possible means within their reach to vote against Gbajabiamila. This will be a pay back time.

By referring to Gbaja as an enemy of pdp lawmakers,you mean he fought against being a member of an HOR that is at best a rubber stamp of the executive's misdeeds like the Senate became??

A man who stands for nothing falls for anything, Gbaja stands for something unlike the Ogor,Ekwunife,Farouk Lawan, Akande Adeola and co

Pay back or no payback it will still be an APC controlled HOR which is the main point.

PassingShot:


May actually turn out a blessing for APC and GMB if Gbaja doesn't get it. It's even more interesting that GMB favours no one on this.

Read between the lines, there is a Northern agenda paraded by former CPC and ANPP Reps without ACN and Southern Nigeria concerns. It is only Gbajabiamila that can provide the balance if Bukola Saraki loses the bid to become Senate President.

Regional Interest is their main focus far above party interest. Taking a lesson from the 7th Assembly were almost all PDP Reps of Northern extraction are in support of Aminu Tambuwal notwithstanding party affiliation throughout his ups and downs.

Any bill they don't want no matter how important it is to restructuring the present system will be put in the cupboard just like the PIB.

modath:


By referring to Gbaja as an enemy of pdp lawmakers,you mean he fought against being a member of an HOR that is at best a rubber stamp of the executive's misdeeds like the Senate became??

A man who stands for nothing falls for anything, Gbaja stands for something unlike the Ogor,Ekwunife,Farouk Lawan, Akande Adeola and co

Pay back or no payback it will still be an APC controlled HOR which is the main point.

Definitely not Tinubu ass licker but an APC loved by every member.

.

OrlandoOwoh:
Why would the north have both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives?

Duh!!!

Its a northern government, deal with it.

If gbaja loses,in my opinion it will be a serious dent on Tinubu's perceived king making powers. It's been a while since tinubu's choice for any position has been thwarted. Gbaja is very qualified and personally I dont believe he will be a tinubu stooge but this might be an opportunity for the house to elect an independent leader who is loved across all party divides. Gbaja's history against PDP doesn't help him at all.

OrlandoOwoh:
.

ask Thief-nubu who sold his birth right to the Hausa/fulani

the betrayal the hausa/fulani politicians will melt out on tinubu is still doing press up

IsraeliAIRFORCE:
Gbajabiamila never knew he would need PDP Reps any day and now he needs them the most.

The truth is that Gbajabiamila is the most qualified to occupy the post but he lost it by his actions and inactions in the 7th Assembly.

You hit the bulls eye.

He never knew he will require the services of the PDP members when he was busy trying to foist himself as the majority leader against the courts ruling that status quo should be maintained. ..Though he is intelligent, his arrogance stinks.

He will soon know that northerners hold the ace and he will soon be treated the way he treated Akande.

Interesting times ahead.

Very good business.. ..As for me, Dogara is my candidate and also another northerner should become the senate president..PDP should play a very smart game here...SW will be the ultimate loser here..Game on.. No permanent friend or enemy in politics, but permanent interest..PDP should side the north because they are more trustworthy than the mischief makers from SW

Gbaja in my opinion has been the most active Rep on the house in the past years. He has always been the voice of the opposition in the house and there's never any issue being discussed in which he doesnt have a contribution.

Gbaja has also been the minority leader and head of the opposition in the house for 8 years. It would really be an anomaly if when his party finally becomes the majority, the former minority leader would then be pushed aside and someone else from the blues made a speaker.

APC should try as much as possible not to end up as PDP.

obailala:
Gbaja in my opinion has been the most active Rep on the house in the past years. He has always been the voice of the opposition in the house and there's never any issue being discussed in which he doesnt have a contribution.

Gbaja has also been the minority leader and head of the opposition in the house for 8 years. It would really be an anomaly if when his party finally becomes the majority, the former minority leader would then be pushed aside and someone else from the blues made a speaker.

Hon. Yakubu Dogar is our next speaker. Gbaja is going nowhere. PDP will reverse-engineer the treachery of ACN caucus now in APC.

CyberWolf:
Very good business.. ..As for me, Dogara is my candidate and also another northerner should become the senate president..PDP should play a very smart game here...SW will be the ultimate loser here..Game on.. No permanent friend or enemy in politics, but permanent interest..PDP should side the north because they are more trustworthy than the mischief makers from SW

Has Anyone Told You That You Reason With Your Asss

Gbaja deserves it, but he must rev up his politicking, and not rely on APC party directives. he needs 181 votes, and with his opponent assured of 143 votes, he has a daunting task ahead. To the best of my knowledge, the only assured vote for him is APC sw votes, which is 50 or thereabout.

feyif:
Has Anyone Told You That You Reason With Your Asss

This really cracked me up..anyway I respect ladies so much so, all I have to say is may God bless you in all your endeavors..

janus05:
Hon. Yakubu Dogar is our next speaker. Gbaja is going nowhere. PDP will reverse-engineer the treachery of ACN caucus now in APC.

Is Dogar not also APC?

obailala:
Is Dogar not also APC?

you are sleeping dude, wake up

IsraeliAIRFORCE:
Gbajabiamila never knew he would need PDP Reps any day and now he needs them the most.

The truth is that Gbajabiamila is the most qualified to occupy the post but he lost it by his actions and inactions in the 7th Assembly.

I told my APC friend not to be sure Gbajabiamila will take it
If Tinubu fails to coerced APC to zoning the seat to SW they should wave it

Tinubu master plan that sees akande lost out, Tinubu will be given a dose of it
Only speakers frm SW will vote him (Apc)

CyberWolf:
you are sleeping dude, wake up

Sorry i'm not sleeping.. My question is in order.

obailala:
Sorry i'm not sleeping.. My question is in order.

Was Tambuwal not in PDP when ACN reps members voted for him?..the answer to this question answers your question..

adeaks:
If gbaja loses,in my opinion it will be a serious dent on Tinubu's perceived king making powers. It's been a while since tinubu's choice for any position has been thwarted. Gbaja is very qualified and personally I dont believe he will be a tinubu stooge but this might be an opportunity for the house to elect an independent leader who is loved across all party divides. Gbaja's history against PDP doesn't help him at all.

I like that Gbaja guy but the Tinubu factor may work against him.

IsraeliAIRFORCE:


Read between the lines, there is a Northern agenda paraded by former CPC and ANPP Reps without ACN and Southern Nigeria concerns. It is only Gbajabiamila that can provide the balance if Bukola Saraki loses the bid to become Senate President.

Regional Interest is their main focus far above party interest. Taking a lesson from the 7th Assembly were almost all PDP Reps of Northern extraction are in support of Aminu Tambuwal notwithstanding party affiliation throughout his ups and downs.

Any bill they don't want no matter how important it is to restructuring the present system will be put in the cupboard just like the PIB.

There is no northern agenda, some Nigerians decided to sign themselves up for perpetual slavery. Don't blame the northerner. PDP will deliver the votes to make a NEer speaker and another northern Senate president. What do we have to lose again, nothing.

CyberWolf:
Was Tambuwal not in PDP when ACN reps members voted for him?..the answer to this question answers your question..

Obviously you did not know the main reason I asked my question. My question was in response to a TANoid who was rejoicing that PDP Reps would punish APC by voting for Dogara... and then I asked, "is Dogara not also apc?"... How is that suppose to be punishmet to APC?