In a keenly fought contest, Hon Dogara defeated Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, representing Surulele I Constituency in Lagos State by 182 votes to 174. Hon Dogara, 47, a University of Jos law graduate, has subsequently been sworn-in as the speaker of Nigeria's eighth House, to preside over one of the chambers of the National Assembly, alongside former Kwara State governor Bukola Saraki who was elected senate president earlier on.
Like senator Saraki, Hon Dogara was elected speaker against the wishes of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which had on Saturday conducted a mock election to choose Hon Gbajabiamila as its official candidate. However, Hon Dogara and his supporters ignored their party and stated that they prefer to be beaten at the floor of the House.
Hon Dogara's chances of getting elected received a boost early today when the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adopted him as its candidate and advised its members to vote for the Bauchi lawmaker. In the last parliament, Hon Dogara was the chairman of the House Services Committee throughout the life of the last assembly.
Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin from Kano State nominated Hon Dogara, with the nomination seconded by Hon Chike Okafor from Imo state. In both the senate and the House of Representatives, the APC's official candidates have list as over the weekend, the party had adopted Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon Gbajabiamila as its senate president and speaker respectively.
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