As it happened in the Nigerian Senate earlier today, Tambuwal method has played out again in the Nigerian House of Representatives. It looks like a pay-back in the APC national leader’s game. Member of the House of Representatives have thus elected Yakubu Dogara, who represents Bogoro/ Tafawa Balewa federal constituency in Bauchi state, as the Speaker of the 8th Assembly.
Mr. Dogara defeated Femi Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere federal constituency, Lagos state, in a keenly contested election. With this outcome, Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of APC have a lot of work to do. They are going to enjoy the leadership of Senate and Reps the way PDP enjoyed Tambuwal from 2011 to 2015.
In the election, Mr. Dogara scored 182 votes while Mr. Gbajabiamila scored 174.
Mr. Dogara is emerging the speaker against the wish of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, which had on Saturday conducted a mock election to choose Mr. Gbajabiamila as the party’s official candidate.
This did not go down well with Mr. Dogara and his supporters as they prefer to be beaten at the floor of the House.
His chances to win the post received a boost early Tuesday when the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, adopted him as its candidate and advised its members to vote for the Bauchi lawmaker.
Mr. Dogara was the chairman House Services committee throughout the life of the last assembly.