Search for New Speaker Tears House Apart

Hon. Dimeji Bankole ,Speaker, House of Representatives

By  Onwuka Nzeshi in Abuja

The House of Representatives has split into various political camps following  intense lobby by different interest groups, caucuses and individual lawmakers to play leading roles in the next session of the parliament.
There are strong indications that the rumoured decision by  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)   to  narrow down  the choice of the next presiding officer  of the House not just to a zone but to an individual, may  face some opposition from the various political camps  already existing in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

At least four   distinct groups have emerged over the last one week and each of them is desirous of   positioning its members to take a shot at the coveted positions of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, House Leader, Minority Leader as well as other principal offices when the seventh session of the National Assembly will be inaugurated in a few weeks from now.

THISDAY gathered that the first camp, known as Continuity Group  is made up of some serving  principal officers of the Green Chamber who won their re-election at the just concluded parliamentary polls and are scheming to ensure that they maximise the advantage their current positions places on them to remain in the leadership cadre in the next dispensation.

The group has already forged an alliance with a number of old returnees, particularly those who have been in the House since 1999.
Incumbent Chief Whip of the House, Hon Emeka Ihedioha; Minority Leader of the House , Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Whip of the House , Hon. Aminu Tambuwal  and Deputy Minority Leader , Hon. Abdulrahman Kawu ,are among those associated with this group.
Also said to be in the group are Chairman , House Committee on Education, Hon. Farouk Lawan;  Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon. John Enoh; Chairman, House Committee on Governmental Affairs, Hon. Leo Ogor as well as Chairman,  Committee on House Services, Hon Yakubu Dogara.

The Continuity Group is said to be seeking to mobilise its members and other lawmakers towards choosing a new leadership from among its ranks.
The group , it was learnt , has been meeting regularly since the end of the elections when it became clear that Speaker of the House,  Dimeji Bankole; Deputy Speaker, Usman Nafada as well as House Leader, Tunde Akogun  had all   failed to renew   their mandates at the polls.