Reports just reaching us indicate that the swearing-in of 8th National Assembly has been shifted.
The reasons for the postponement are related to the bitterness surrounding the contenders for the offices of the Senate president and the speaker of the House of Representatives.
One insider said the party would never settle for a weak administration at whatever level and would do everything to stop the anti-party activities of some of its members.
He said: ”Honestly we never expected this sudden interest of the Peoples Democratic Party, that had initially said it was not interested in NASS leadership to now start championing it”.
“We got hint of this development at about 4.am and had to swing into action”.
“This sudden interest of the PDP was why we shifted the inauguration and ensure we put the House in order before another date will be scheduled”.
“As you know the Hon Yakubu Dogara camp went too far in all they have done in the last two weeks heating the polity unnecessarily for no just cause”.
“On Monday night we had a parade of those that will vote for Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and 203 lawmakers signified their interest so it could have been a done deal if not for the antics of some of us who want power by all means”.
“Nigerians did not vote for a diluted government rather they voted for change and a positive change for that matter”.
“One thing I can assure you of is that the APC will cross this bridge without a stain and the PDP will woefully fail”.
At least four people are angling for the posts.
These are Senators Bukola Saraki from Kwara state and Ahmed Lawan from Yobe state for the Senate presidency, and Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi state and Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos state for the speakership of the House.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a mock election on June 6, Saturday, at the International Conference Center, Abuja, accepted Lawan and Gbajabiamila as candidates for Senate president and speaker of the House respectively.
But this was to the surprise and displeasure of most of the incoming members elected on the party’s platform, particularly those supporting the candidacies of Saraki and Dogara.
Every effort to stop the duo from participating in the election of the presiding officers has failed, including a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osibanjo last night.
However, President Muhammadu Buhari is due for a meeting with the incoming lawmakers any moment now at the Conference Center.
The National Assembly is reportedly locked down and workers and guests have been denied entrance to the complex.
The reasons for the postponement are related to the bitterness surrounding the contenders for the offices of the Senate president and the speaker of the House of Representatives.
One insider said the party would never settle for a weak administration at whatever level and would do everything to stop the anti-party activities of some of its members.
He said: ”Honestly we never expected this sudden interest of the Peoples Democratic Party, that had initially said it was not interested in NASS leadership to now start championing it”.
“We got hint of this development at about 4.am and had to swing into action”.
“This sudden interest of the PDP was why we shifted the inauguration and ensure we put the House in order before another date will be scheduled”.
“As you know the Hon Yakubu Dogara camp went too far in all they have done in the last two weeks heating the polity unnecessarily for no just cause”.
“On Monday night we had a parade of those that will vote for Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and 203 lawmakers signified their interest so it could have been a done deal if not for the antics of some of us who want power by all means”.
“Nigerians did not vote for a diluted government rather they voted for change and a positive change for that matter”.
“One thing I can assure you of is that the APC will cross this bridge without a stain and the PDP will woefully fail”.
At least four people are angling for the posts.
These are Senators Bukola Saraki from Kwara state and Ahmed Lawan from Yobe state for the Senate presidency, and Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi state and Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos state for the speakership of the House.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a mock election on June 6, Saturday, at the International Conference Center, Abuja, accepted Lawan and Gbajabiamila as candidates for Senate president and speaker of the House respectively.
But this was to the surprise and displeasure of most of the incoming members elected on the party’s platform, particularly those supporting the candidacies of Saraki and Dogara.
Every effort to stop the duo from participating in the election of the presiding officers has failed, including a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osibanjo last night.
However, President Muhammadu Buhari is due for a meeting with the incoming lawmakers any moment now at the Conference Center.
The National Assembly is reportedly locked down and workers and guests have been denied entrance to the complex.
