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KonkNaija Media | May 2, 2016

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Nigeria House of Representatives- Deadlock Breaks – APC’s Gbajabiamila is majority leader elect

Nigeria House of Representatives- Deadlock Breaks – APC’s Gbajabiamila is majority leader elect

The House of Representatives has named Femi Gbajabiamila the majority leader, in a move likely to help calm a house frayed for weeks by leadership tussle.Mr. Gbajabiamila emerged the All Progressives Congress caucus leader hours after the House leaders met with the leadership of the ruling APC in Abuja.

The meeting was at the behest of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The house has been racked by leadership tussle since its inauguration June 9.

Mr. Gbajabiamila, a former minority leader, was pushed for the speakership slot, but narrowly lost to Yakubu Dogara.

Member of the House of Representatives have 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.

Mr. Dogara scored 182 votes while Mr. Ggajabiamila polled 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.

Mr. Dogara and his supporters ignored their party and stated that 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.

Mr. Dogara’s rejection of the party’s demand that Mr. Gbajabiamila be given the majority leader position, split the house into two factions, each insisting on its term for resolving the conflict.

Also, Ado Doguwa was named chief whip and Buba Jibrin, deputy leader. Pally Iraise was named deputy whip.

In the same vein, Leo Ogor emerged Minority Leader; Chukwuma Onyema, deputy Minority Whip; and Yakubu Umar, the Minority Whip.