The drama playing out in both chambers of the National Assembly has generated enough furor for President Muhammadu Buhari to wade in. This intervention comes despite his earlier decision to stay out of the wrangling for positions in both houses.
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier strayed from the party’s position when they went ahead to appoint Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker. This decision has since split the APC members along two discordant lines.
Looking like a house divided against itself, President Buhari eventually decided to hold an emergency meeting to reconcile the factions in the House of Representatives. On the one hand is the faction of Speaker of the House Of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and on the other hand, the faction of former Minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Punch newspaper reports that the meeting ended in a deadlock with each faction sticking to their side of the side. However, the only unequivocal assertion from the President was that the party is supreme and that all members must respect the party.
The meeting reportedly lasted just a little over 20 minutes.