BREAKING: Gbajabiamila Becomes Reps 9th Speaker

Former House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila has been elected the Speaker of the ninth House of Representatives.

Gbajabiamila who represents Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State was elected by his colleagues in the Green Chambers today through the open ballot.

He defeated Mohammed Umaru Bago from Niger State with 283 votes.

Bago polled 76 votes.

360 members participated in the election.

Both Gbajabiamila and Bago are of same party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Gbajabiamila’s Campaign Director General, Abdulmumuni Jibrin from Kano state nominated the Lawmaker for the top job.

He was seconded by a female PDP member, Linda Ikpeazu.

Gbajabiamila has the endorsement of the National Leadership of the APC, some state governors, several number of his colleagues and various groups.

Less than two days ago, four other contenders for the position reportedly stepped down their ambition for Gbajabiamila.

Gbajabiamila declared his intension to vie for office of the ninth speaker on March 31, 2019.

Recall that both Gbajabiamila and Bago had visited many states across the country, canvassing for support from traditional, political and religious leaders.

This is the second time Gbajabiamila contested for the position of speaker. He contested and narrowly lost the position to the immediate past speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara in 2015.

Like this election, he also had the endorsement of the APC in 2015 but was reportedly outsmarted by Mr. Dogara.

This is his fifth term in the house.

Femi Gbajabiamila who was born June 25, 1962, is a lawyer and the immediate House Leader of the 8th House of Representatives.

He attended Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos, King William’s College on the Isle of Man, United Kingdom, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, United States, and the University of Lagos in Lagos.

In 2014, Femi Gbajabiamila as the Leader of Opposition in the House of Representatives led his colleagues into the merger that gave birth to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Under Femi’s leadership of the APC caucus in the House, the party increased its numbers, earning them the majority.

The House has produced the following Speakers from 1955 to present time. There are Frederic Metcalfe, Jaja Wachuku, Ibrahim Jalo Waziri, Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, Salisu Buhari, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, Aminu Bello Masari, Patricia Etteh, Dimeji Bankole, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Yakubu Dogara and Femi Gbajabiamila.