A new speaker and deputy speaker were, Tuesday, elected for the ninth House of Representatives.
Former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, representing Sulurere 1 in Lagos State has been declared the new speaker of the ninth House of Representatives.
Also, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase (APC, Wase federal constituency, Plateau) was elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Both were backed by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Mr Gbajabiamila garnered 281 votes to floor his rival, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago (APC, Niger), who polled paltry 76 votes.
After a secret ballot voting which lasted for over three hours, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, the clerk to the National Assembly, announced Mr Gbajabiamila’s victory to the cheers of many of his supporters.
“Femi Gbajabiamila, having secured the majority of the votes counted is hereby returned elected and declared speaker of the house,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wase ran a joint ticket with the new Speaker, Gbajabiamila and will succeed Yusuf Lasun from Osun.
He was nominated for the post by Hon. Sade Sole from Kastina state while Hon. Onofiok Luke, member-elect from Akwa Ibom and immediate past speaker of the state House of Assembly seconded the motion.
There was no other nominee for the position.
