House leadership crisis: Counter claims trail Oyegun’s meeting with Reps

The about two-month old leadership crisis rocking the House of Representatives may be over soon as the two contending camps are said to have reached a resolution to end the logjam.

 This was a result of a meeting held between National Chairman of the party John Oyegun and leadership of the House led by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, which ended in the early hours of today.

Before the meeting, the lawmakers elected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) including the party chairman met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa on Monday night. 

 Buhari was reported to have directed the party to consult with the lawmakers to reach an amicable end to the crisis.

 But the two camps are laying claims to different resolutions reached at the meeting that ended in the morning of Tuesday.

A lawmaker present at the late night meeting in a text message to our correspondent  early this morning said a resolution was reached after APC, which had nominated some lawmakers to occupy the positions of principal officers, withdrew the names but stood on the zones selected.

 “The resolution reached by both parties tonight at National Chairman’s house is that the party’s letter stands. However, names earlier attached to the letter would be removed. While members at the zonal caucuses would elect their various leaders. Present zoning: House Leader, South West; Deputy House Leader, North West; Chief Whip, North East and Deputy House Whip, South South,” said the lawmaker.

 Another lawmaker also confirmed the development to our correspondent this morning, saying “yes that is true.”

 However, Rep Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who was adopted by the Dogara camp for House leader said both parties still stood their grounds on the matter.

 “That is not true at all. At no point in time was such decision reached throughout our engagements yesterday, and till now, factions in the House of Reps crisis stood their grounds,” he said.

 Similarly, a source close to Dogara said the party has accepted to adopt the speaker’s candidates for the principal officers’ positions.

 The source said Doguwa was adopted for House leader, Pally Iriase for chief whip, Umar Buba Jibrin as deputy House leader and Chike Okafor as deputy chief whip.