Dogara beats Gbajabiamila, emerges Reps speaker

Details of the two meetings were sketchy because no member of either groups offered information about their discussions.

Saraki and Lawan had before the meetings on Monday intensified their lobby   for support from the PDP senators-elect.

Unconfirmed reports from the camps of Saraki and Lawan   alleged that foreign currencies and promises of membership of juicy committees were offered to members of the PDP caucus.



A leading member of the Like Minds Senators, told one of our correspondents in Abuja that a godfather in the APC had since Sunday been reaching out to both the APC and PDP senators-elect.

He     said, “The desperation started last week when some senators who were among the 34 signatories to the letter addressed to the national chairman of the party ( Odigie-Oyegun), endorsing Saraki were enjoined to resist monetary inducement.

“We are seriously relying on members who are real men of integrity to stand by their words and vote according to their conscience on the floor tomorrow(Tuesday).”

Increased security at National Assembly complex

There was increased presence of policemen and other security operatives at all the gates leading to the National Assembly complex on Monday.

Visitors and members of staff were required to identify themselves before being allowed to enter the complex.

Findings also showed that within the complex, access to the popular ‘White House’ was restricted by security operatives and Sergeant-at-Arms personnel.

The White House is the area housing the Senate and the House of Representatives chambers, as well as the main lobby and offices of the Clerk to the National Assembly.

As part of measures to prevent security breaches and control crowd today (Tuesday), all members of staff and persons having any function to perform must be accredited.

Senators and members-elect were also accredited, starting from last Saturday.

Group protests at National Assembly.

Also on Monday, a group under the aegis of Buhari/Osinbajo Coalition, protested at the National Assembly Complex over what it called ‘imposition’ of National Assembly leaders.

Coordinator of the group, Yusuf Nadabo, decried the mock election by the APC on Saturday which produced Lawan and George Akume (Benue North West) as Senate President and Deputy Senate President.

The election also saw Femi Gbajabiamila   and Tahir Monguno emerging as the APC consensus candidate for the House of Representative speaker and deputy speaker.

“We believe in sustainability of democracy. We don’t want a mock election. We want a proper election