The move by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to clinch the seat of the speaker in the 8th National Assembly failed to get an expected boost on Monday.
Mr. Gbajabiamila, a ranking member of the House, has been consulting with his colleagues across the country to be elected speaker.
PREMIUM TIMES authoritatively learnt that Mr. Gbajabiamila was on the verge of emerging speaker of the House following an agreement reached between him and another top contender for the post, Abdulmumin Jibrin.
Mr. Gbajabiamila represents Surulere II Federal Constituency in Lagos State, South-West zone.
Mr. Jibrin, who serves as chairman, House committee on finance, represents Kiru Bebeji Federal Constituency in Kano, North-West zone.
While the South-West zone has 82 members in the incoming House, the North-West has a total of 92 representatives.
Mr. Gbajabiamila, it was further learnt had talked Mr. Jibrin to back down from the race and rather mobilise the North-West lawmakers to support his (Gbajabiamila) candidature.
But the minority leader’s hopes were dashed when Mr. Jibrin, failed to show up at a press briefing arranged for him (Jibrin) to step down from the race.
The joint press conference which was scheduled to be addressed by the two top politicians at the Transcorp Hilton, therefore, failed to hold.
However, PREMIUM TIMES reliably gathered that the initial plan to step down for Mr. Gbajabiamila collapsed after Mr. Jibrin insisted on a deal that would see him emerge deputy speaker.
But a source within the Gbajabiamila group said the proposal was unacceptable.
Already, the All Progressives Congress, APC, is said to have favoured the South-West to produce the speaker of the House of Representatives while the North-East would produce the deputy, said the source.
Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Jibrin explained that the press conference could not hold because he later realised the need for further consultation.
While confirming that the purpose of the failed press conference was for him to announce his withdrawal for Mr. Gbabiamila, he, however, insisted that original agreement was for them to announce a joint ticket deal.
Some of the Mr. Gbajabiamila’s supporters, however, indicated that the request for a joint ticket deal was a last minute decision by Mr. Jibrin.
