Yakubu Dogara has emerged as the Speaker of the House of Representatives polling 186 votes to defeat Femi Gbajabiamila, who garnered 174 votes in a keenly contested election.
Following earlier events which saw Senator Bukola Saraki emerge as the President of the 8th Senate, the election for Speaker of the House was bound to be dicey affair.
A few minutes past 1 pm, the House Clerk Salisu Maikasuwa announced that 358 members were present and ready for plenary with one absent due to illness.
Kano lawmaker, Abdulnumin Jibrin as expected, nominated Dogara of Bauchi State. His motion was seconded by Chike Okafor of Imo State.
Next was Mohammed Abdu of Bauchi who nominated the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) preferred candidate, Femi Gbajabiamila. The nomination was seconded by Shaibu Phillip of Edo State.
It would be recalled that prior to the election, the APC had “anointed” Gbajabiamila for the post while the PDP opted to support “APC-reject” Yakubu Dogara.
