Gbajabiamila claims APC, PDP lawmakers have given him numbers to become next Speaker

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, has said he has numbers from lawmakers from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to become Speaker in the 9th assembly.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Gbajabiamila who spoke through Abdulmumin Jibrin, his campaign spokesman, said his support cuts across party lines.
The APC which is expected to produce the next speaker, had endorsed Gbajabiamila as its choice for the position.

He was also endorsed for the position in 2015, but was eventually beaten to it by Yakubu Dogara.
“Now we have the numbers to win the election on June 10. We have applied different kind of modules to weigh our numbers. In all the instances we have applied, we have arrived at a very comfortable number that will win us the eleciton. We have gotten all the numbers we require.
“We also have large number of members from PDP and other opposition parties. Femi and (Mohammed) Wase are foing to run all inclusive house. We believe we will get PDP and others to join the train.

“If not for the fact that we have to keep our guards, we would have asked my colelagues to go and sleep and come back in June, that victory is ours. But we are not taking anything for granted”, he said.
Jibrin also disclosed that Dogara who is of the PDP, is being lobbied to ensure a “common ground”.
According to him, “we are also lobbying the incumbent Speaker. We appreciate the value he can bring on board. He has a support base and controls a particular bloc of the house.
“We have opened up negotiations with him and we are pretty sure because of the love he has for this parliament, we will reach a common ground.”