Ahead of the June 6 inauguration of the 9th National Assembly (NASS), the race for the Speaker of the House of Representatives is getting interesting as incumbent Speaker, Yakubu Dogara is strategising to cash in on the self-inflicted discord ravaging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to retain his seat.

Reliable sources told The Guardian that the Speaker, who may be in possession of a trump card, is quietly reaching out to the 123 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members-elect and a section of APC members, who are occupying key committee positions in a bid to curry their support. Dogara, who has maintained studied silence on his ambition, had through his aide on media and public affairs, Malam Hassan Adamu Turaki, said he won’t be dragged into talks on the speakership, but would rather occupy himself with the task of serving out his tenure successfully.

However, moves by members-elect from the North Central and South East geo-political zones to take a shot at the speakership may sound the death knell for the ruling party’s zoning of the seat to the South West geo-political zone.With unfolding developments, there is the likelihood that contest could get unmanageable when the 9th NASS is inaugurated in less than 60 days, because lawmakers from both zones insist that APC’s decision smacks of insensitivity to the need to adhere to the principles of federal character aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of positions of power in the country.


The North Central Caucus Stakeholders led by Mr. John Dyegh (APC, Benue) faulted the APC’s stance, wondering why the speakership should be zoned to the South West even when the number two citizen, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, comes from there.They anchored their position on the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which says: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies shall be carried out in a manner as to reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few ethnic or sectional groups in that government or any of its agencies, in order to command loyalty and peaceful coexistence.”

Lawmakers that have so far delared interest in Dogara’s job include; Ahmed Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Muhammed Umar Bago (APC, Niger), and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (APC, Abia). They said they are better placed to take the seat than Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, who is the preferred choice of APC. Wase’s candidacy is already gaining grounds among lawmakers from the zone, who argue that he stands out in view of his years of experience, commitment to the party, sense of organisation and leadership qualities.

Moreover, Wase known with the sobriquet “Maje,” remains one of the strong pillars of the APC in Plateau State, with his constituency consistently voting for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC in all elections.Beyond his native Plateau State, other lawmakers say record of service in his three terms (from 2007 to date) speaks loud for him.

As a member of different standing committees in the 6th, 7th and the current 8th House, such as Emergency & Disasters, Environment, Capital Market, as well as the Federal Character, which he chaired twice, Wase’s contributions accelerated the passage of numerous executive bills such as the Companies & Allied Matters Act (Amendment) Bill 2018, and the Deep Offshore and Inland Basins Production Sharing Contract (Amendment) Bill 2018.


These contributions seem to endear him to his colleagues, resulting in his elevation to the position of Deputy Leader of the House after the demise of Umar Buba Jibril, early last year.Bago, a second termer at a cocktail he hosted for new and returning House members in Abuja noted: “I won’t be in this race in the first place if this position was zoned to the South East because I will see equity in it, but for it to be zoned to South West there is no equity at all.

Feelers, however, reveal that APC may fall back on Wase to ensure that Dogara does not spring a surprise by cashing on the determined efforts by lawmakers from North Central. A former House member, Mr. Lumumba Dah-Adeh, who is more predisposed to Wase’s emergence, explained that the current configuration of the country’s political structure favours the North Central to produce the speaker.

Adeh, who represented Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency from 1999 to 2003, said Wase possesses the quality of a high-class lawmaker with the capacity to effectively preside over the House.Nevertheless, Gbajabiamila, who remains the candidate to beat is being endorsed by most members of the North West and North East geo-political zones who occupy over one third of seats in the 360-member lower legislative chamber.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/house-speakership-dogara-rallies-pdp.html

If the guy retain his seat, apc, oshomole will cry blood

Lol. .Saraki is teaching these guys well.

Game on.The APC is so disorganised that they will play into the hand of the PDP again.Politics indeed is a dirty game.

.

He can only try

How does this affect development in Nigeria?

Useless press.

Na wa

Saao:
If the guy retain his seat, apc, oshomole will cry blood

He cant retain it. He is just forming machoman for people that care to acknowledge him. Im not sure some of you are aware of APCs determination to enforce party discipline any shape and way it takes. The most people will do is cry blood and send to UN.

Truth of the matter is if Nigeria distabilizes Africa will follow in its distabilization one form or another. Global powers would rather look away than condemn our leaders.

So lawmakers are getting ready to get a taste of a power bigger than them. In a democracy, party owns Assembly.

Surprise surprise we don’t want u any more betrayal

I think d courts shd make a definite pronouncement on minority party seeking d leadership of national assembly. I don't think it's right for a minority party to lead

Nonsense in the Hoise

I Know PDP will be in power one day and APC will influential numbers to upset them.



Not that PDP is actually smart.

It has been proved several times that APC is smarter than them!

God bless Nigeria! Happening now: https://www.nairaland.com/5120840/saved-save-others-preach-anything#77330531

MetaPhysical:


He cant retain it. He is just forming machoman for people that care to acknowledge him. Im not sure some of you are aware of APCs determination to enforce party discipline any shape and way it takes. The most people will do is cry blood and send to UN.

Truth of the matter is if Nigeria distabilizes Africa will follow in its distabilization one form or another. Global powers would rather look away than condemn our leaders.

So lawmakers are getting ready to get a taste of a power bigger than them. In a democracy, party owns Assembly.

You are right party discipline is paramount and must be enshrined. However why would the majority party loosing control of the National Assembly, albeit through the backdoor, destabilize Africa? After all Africa was not impacted when it happened in 2015.

Quality20:
I think d courts shd make a definite pronouncement on minority party seeking d leadership of national assembly. I don't think it's right for a minority party to lead

They court cannot interpret a law that is not made in the first place.

The constitution is silent on which party should produce principal officers of the NASS.

So, where do you want the courts to derive it's powers.

And I hope you know that whatever happens inside the Assembly is not justiceable?

Quality20:
I think d courts shd make a definite pronouncement on minority party seeking d leadership of national assembly. I don't think it's right for a minority party to lead

We are in a democracy

MetaPhysical:


He cant retain it. He is just forming machoman for people that care to acknowledge him. Im not sure some of you are aware of APCs determination to enforce party discipline any shape and way it takes. The most people will do is cry blood and send to UN.

Truth of the matter is if Nigeria distabilizes Africa will follow in its distabilization one form or another. Global powers would rather look away than condemn our leaders.

So lawmakers are getting ready to get a taste of a power bigger than them. In a democracy, party owns Assembly.

The election will be held under a secret ballot system and tekevised to the whole world.The talks of power bigger than them is balderdash If the majority of the lawmakers do not want Gbaja then he will lose and nothing absolutely nothing will happen.

Quality20:
I think d courts shd make a definite pronouncement on minority party seeking d leadership of national assembly. I don't think it's right for a minority party to lead

Our constitution is very clear.Every member of the NASS is qualified to be senate president or speaker.There is nothing the courts can do about that

Politics is too dirty sha


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MetaPhysical:


He cant retain it. He is just forming machoman for people that care to acknowledge him. Im not sure some of you are aware of APCs determination to enforce party discipline any shape and way it takes. The most people will do is cry blood and send to UN.

Truth of the matter is if Nigeria distabilizes Africa will follow in its distabilization one form or another. Global powers would rather look away than condemn our leaders.

So lawmakers are getting ready to get a taste of a power bigger than them. In a democracy, party owns Assembly.

Enforce party discipline? Hahahaha funny.

Enforce party discipline that made them not to have candidates in Rivers state, Zamfara and anti party crises in other states?

Enforce party discipline when they all want Lawan but Ndume want his own too?

DO you even know the meaning of party discipline? You think Oshiomole doing gra gra up and down like others in the party are small boys means enforcing party discipline?

I'm still waiting for Amaechi to be discipline for anti party conduct.

Anybody can win it but not Mohammed Bago... Rep of only one Local Government (Chanchaga) who's only useful to touts

For those of you who doesn’t know what Dongora is banking on, let me break it down for you.

The apc vote will be divided into 2, they have 2 contestant eyeing the speakership position, one has the backing of the presidency, the other has the backing of the NWC/ party leadership.

Pdp just neee to put their house in other, if they do, they would spring a surprise in the senate and the house.

Dogara just need to lobby some of his old friend in the apc for him to retain the seat.

K

MetaPhysical:


He cant retain it. He is just forming machoman for people that care to acknowledge him. Im not sure some of you are aware of APCs determination to enforce party discipline any shape and way it takes. The most people will do is cry blood and send to UN.

Truth of the matter is if Nigeria distabilizes Africa will follow in its distabilization one form or another. Global powers would rather look away than condemn our leaders.

So lawmakers are getting ready to get a taste of a power bigger than them. In a democracy, party owns Assembly.

You be mumu I swear.....next time people the comment here just close your mouth and observe so that you go learn.

Quality20:
I think d courts shd make a definite pronouncement on minority party seeking d leadership of national assembly. I don't think it's right for a minority party to lead

There is nor right or wrong here. It's democracy. If a minority party wins a fair election, we should ask why or how the majority lost. Defaulting minority to lead everywhere sounds dictatorial. There is a reason our constitution didn't include such a clause. It's for moments like this. It also forces the majority to practice a fairly e form of internal democracy. We all win. While your suggestion is being considered, they could as well include the rules on decamping. That is really where the flaw lies. If you can't decamp for a minimum of 5 years without losing your position, there will be progress. All this talk comes down to the ability to decamp easily. A rep member would vote for Dogara and then decamp if promised a juicy position.

AroleOduduwa2:
For those of you who doesn’t know what Dongora is banking on, let me break it down for you.

The apc vote will be divided into 2, they have 2 contestant eyeing the speakership position, one has the backing of the presidency, the other has the backing of the NWC/ party leadership.

Pdp just neee to put their house in other, if they do, they would spring a surprise in the senate and the house.

You wish! and you think presidency will standby and watch that rubbish? That bullshit ended with saraki