Some members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) under the aegis of the 8th Assembly Consolidation Group described the election of Gbajabiamila as an illegal act, adding that the party lacks the power to dictate to the members of the House of Representatives on the occupant of the Speakership position.
In a statement entitled: “Our Stand on the Illegality perpetrated by leadership of the All Progressives Congress”, they claimed that they were ambushed with the election procedures by the chief Oyegun led leadership of the party.
“We in the 8th Assembly Consolidation Group of Hon. Yakubu Dogara wish to state our position on the event of today Saturday 6th June 2015 as follows:That we got invitation for a meeting summoned by the APC leadership.
That we went to the meeting with the expectation the party wanted to give us last word ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration of the House.
However, we began to notice some moves in the hall where members supporting Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila started campaigning and soon we saw ballot papers being moved in the hall.
“The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun ,informed us that they were going to conduct a mock, straw or primary election. The 8th Assembly Consolidation Group mandated Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin to speak on our behalf.
“First, we read out the statement issued by our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari on the election of National Assembly leadership. We then told Chief Oyegun that it is either he is disagreeing with the President, undermining his stance, or does not agree that the president is the leader of the party.
