As APC NWC Meets APC Reps, I Won’t Go To Court, Says Gbajabiamila

Femi Gbajabiamila

Femi Gbajabiamila, who won the All Progressives Congress straw poll for election into the office of House of Reps Speaker, told journalists after a meeting with the APC NWC that they were prepared to work in the interest of the party and the Federal Government.

Gbajabiamila said that members of the APC in the House decided to visit the national leadership of the party on how to unite and strengthen the party for service delivery.

Asked if he would challenge the election of Dogara in court, he said, “Go to court for what? But I don’t know about the Senate. I can only speak about the House. Nothing happened in the House; we had an election so it is different from the Senate. In the Senate, people were deprived of their fundamental rights to express themselves by voting.”

The Punch report continues:

Mungono, in his comments, said it was normal in political settings for more than one person to show interest in a position.

He however said when a political party chooses to organize an in-house election where candidates emerge, all loyal   members must respect it.

Mongono said, “As it is now, that (the election of Saraki and Dogara) is a reality on the ground. And we have to deal with it. We are loyal members of a party that is in control of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as such, we will not take any step that will affect the interest, the peace and order and good governance of this country.”

It was also learnt in Abuja on Thursday that Presidency might have intervened in the crisis generated by the election of Saraki, Dogara and Ike Ekweremadu, a PDP lawmaker.

A high ranking member of the APC made this known to The Punch on Thursday shortly after the NWC also met with some of the SUF members.

The SUF comprises 27 senators solidly backing Ahmed Lawan, the anointed candidate for the Senate Presidency.

They and Lawan were also among the 51 senators that were waiting for a scheduled meeting with Buhari at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, when 57 of their colleagues elected Saraki, a former Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, as Senate President.

Shortly after the NWC meeting started, the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, allegedly received a message that his attention was needed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa.

The high ranking party source, who did not want his name in print, also said that Saraki and Dogara might only be cautioned by the APC for defying its directive not to contest the two highest positions in the National Assembly.

He said, “Our leaders at the highest level have waded into the matter as I speak to you, the general feeling is that, we cannot afford to allow the National Assembly issue to further polarize our party.

“Saraki, Dogara and their supporters are most likely to get away with words of caution because the deed has been done.”

The party source however said the Presidency was disturbed about the emergence of Ekweremadu   as deputy president of the Senate.

When one of our correspondents contacted   the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, and Mohammed on the Presidency’s alleged intervention, they said they were unaware of it.

APC NWC Meets Gbajabiamila, Other Reps

The APC leadership also met on Thursday with some of its House of Representatives members as part of efforts to douse the tension in the National Assembly.

The members were led by Gbajabiamila and Mungono.

A member of the team, Sani Zoro, said the meeting was essentially to look for a way forward out of the situation the party had found itself.

Zoro said the APC had commenced the process of deescalating the crisis with an approach which would involve the Presidency, the National Assembly and the party’s leadership.

According to him, what is uppermost in the minds of party leaders now is how best to leave the past and forge ahead.

He said, “The solutions that are being worked out by the party, the Presidency and the National Assembly are being triangulated.

“I can assure you that it will accommodate all the concerns and fears and at the end of it, it will provide a single template that all will key into.   All that has happened is in the past because we have to defend the government that we have put in place, war cannot be the solution.”

“Measures have been agreed upon that will deescalate the crisis. I assure you that those who are the masterminds of the crisis who thought they are going to benefit politically from it will be surprised.”

Zorro added that it would not be out of place if the APC took appropriate actions against all its National Assembly members who   entered into an “unholy alliance” with members of the opposition PDP.