House Crisis: APC lawmakers vow to ensure Speaker Dogara obeys party

“The speaker and deputy speaker are not party principal officers but are House of Representatives presiding officers and by precedent and practice are expected to provide a level playing ground for all members, while the party’s principal officers
are supposed to be the main advocates for their individual party positions. “The speaker and the deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives are elected by all members of the House of Representatives irrespective of party affiliation and it is also possible under our extant rules for a speaker and his deputy to be elected from a minority/opposition party in the National Assembly. “Therefore, Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives cannot under extant Laws and House rules appoint, choose, select, dictate or even provide guidance on how party principal officers emerge or are elected or selected. That responsibility and authority lies with each party and party’s caucus members in the House. “If I may ask, is Speaker Yakubu Dogara empowered to do that for the PDP House Caucus?” It was gathered that "the speaker and deputy speaker are not party principal officers but are House of Representatives presiding officers and by precedent and practice are expected to provide a level playing ground for all members, while the party’s principal officers

are supposed to be the main advocates for their individual party positions. “The speaker and the deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives are elected by all members of the House of Representatives irrespective of party affiliation and it is also possible under our extant rules for a speaker and his deputy to be elected from a minority/opposition party in the National Assembly. “Therefore, Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives cannot under extant Laws and House rules appoint, choose, select, dictate or even provide guidance on how party principal officers emerge or are elected or selected. That responsibility and authority lies with each party and party’s caucus members in the House. “If I may ask, is Speaker Yakubu Dogara empowered to do that for the PDP House Caucus?” It was gathered that the lawmakers, who want the party’s view respected, had planned a showdown with the speaker’s supporters. The source, a lawmaker, said if Mr. Dogara had his way at the expense of the party, APC would become “opposition” in its own government. “Of the 10 members that constitute the House leadership, four will be from PDP, should those that are not loyal to the party emerge, it means APC is an opposition. Of course, he is saying the party should take two of the four principal offices due to APC. Even at that it follows, APC has just two persons in the House leadership, while PDP and Dogara have eight because there is no difference between them,” the source said. Monguno Forgoes Chief Whip Position Meanwhile, Mr. Monguno, who was nominated by the APC leadership to clinch the position of Chief Whip, has stepped down from the race. A member of the House, Parry Iriase from Edo State, disclosed this on Thursday. He said the action was taken “graciously” by Mr. Monguno, who hails from Borno State, to ensure unity in the caucus. Mr. Iriase is expected to take the position of Chief Whip if the party’s directive prevails. PDP caucus blast APC leadership and Reps The Peoples Democratic Party members in the House of Representatives lambasted the APC over the events of Thursday. Leo Ogor spoke on behalf of the PDP members. “A very embarrassing and unpleasant action took place from the APC group. They decided to take laws into their hands, turned the House upside down and went as far as even carrying the mace which is the symbol of authority. “Today became like a wasted day because motions that were supposed to have been taken that border on matters of national urgent importance that affect our constituencies. A host of other issues we were unable to take them due to the unacceptable action that you saw on the floor of the house,” Mr. Ogor said. He appealed to the APC members to always respect rules and due in their actions however the situation. “I want to appeal specifically to the leadership of APC that there clear processes in addressing issues, this approach will not solve any problem. They have crisis within their own party, they should be able to resolve it than bring it to the green chamber. “I find what happened today very embarrassing and if this is the kind of leadership and change they are trying to bring to Nigerians, we are not going to accept this modality of change,” he added.y gathered that the lawmakers, who want the party’s view respected, had planned a showdown with the speaker’s supporters. The source, a lawmaker, said if Mr. Dogara had his way at the expense of the party, APC would become “opposition” in its own government. “Of the 10 members that constitute the House leadership, four will be from PDP, should those that are not loyal to the party emerge, it means APC is an opposition. Of course, he is saying the party should take two of the four principal offices due to APC. Even at that it follows, APC has just two persons in the House leadership, while PDP and Dogara have eight because there is no difference between them,” the source said. Monguno Forgoes Chief Whip Position Meanwhile, Mr. Monguno, who was nominated by the APC leadership to clinch the position of Chief Whip, has stepped down from the race. A member of the House, Parry Iriase from Edo State, disclosed this on Thursday. He said the action was taken “graciously” by Mr. Monguno, who hails from Borno State, to ensure unity in the caucus. Mr. Iriase is expected to take the position of Chief Whip if the party’s directive prevails. PDP caucus blast APC leadership and Reps The Peoples Democratic Party members in the House of Representatives lambasted the APC over the events of Thursday. Leo Ogor spoke on behalf of the PDP members. “A very embarrassing and unpleasant action took place from the APC group. They decided to take laws into their hands, turned the House upside down and went as far as even carrying the mace which is the symbol of authority. “Today became like a wasted day because motions that were supposed to have been taken that border on matters of national urgent importance that affect our constituencies. A host of other issues we were unable to take them due to the unacceptable action that you saw on the floor of the house,” Mr. Ogor said. He appealed to the APC members to always respect rules and due in their actions however the situation. “I want to appeal specifically to the leadership of APC that there clear processes in addressing issues, this approach will not solve any problem. They have crisis within their own party, they should be able to resolve it than bring it to the green chamber. “I find what happened today very embarrassing and if this is the kind of leadership and change they are trying to bring to Nigerians, we are not going to accept this modality of change,” he added.