What happens to Gbajabiamila’s seat as he becomes Tinubu’s Chief of Staff? A Neusroom Explainer
After hours of speculation, President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, June 2, 2023, announced the appointment of Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as his Chief of Staff.
A statement by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director, Information, State House, Abuja, on Friday, said Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, a former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, was also appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff, while former Governor of Benue State and immediate past Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, has been appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
As the Chief of Staff to the President, his primary duties involved overseeing all the activities in the Office of the President and a variety of other critical functions in support of the president’s work and agenda. He will control access to the president’s office and decide who can or cannot see the president.
Gbajabiamila, 60, who will be 61 on June 25, is a law graduate from the University of Lagos. He was first elected as member of the Green Chamber in 2003, representing Surulere Constituency, and has been a member of the House for 20 years. In 2019, he emerged as Speaker of the House of Representatives and in the February 2023 general election, Gbajabiamila won re-election for a record sixth term in office, making him one the longest serving Nigerian lawmakers.
With his appointment coming a few days to the expiration of his term as Speaker of the House of Representatives and inauguration as a sixth term lawmaker, which is expected to hold in the second week of June 2023, what happens to his seat as lawmaker representing Surulere in the House of Representatives?
Here’s what we know:
Gbajabiamila will have to formally resign as Speaker and a lawmaker after accepting the appointment. However, in a statement on his official Facebook page on Friday, June 2, 2023, a few hours after the announcement of his appointment, he revealed that his appointment takes effect from June 14, 2023.
“I shall give my best when I take office on June 14, 2023, as reflected in Mr. President’s official letter,” the statement read.
According to Section 68(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, ‘A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if – He becomes President, Vice-President, Governor, Deputy Governor or a Minister of the Government of the Federation or a Commissioner of the Government of a State or a Special Adviser.”
The Speaker is expected to send a notice of resignation to the Clerk of the National Assembly as mandated by Section 306 of the Nigerian constitution which states that: “The notice of resignation of the President of the Senate and of the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall in each case be addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly,
The Clerk is expected to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after which it will conduct a by-election to fill his vacant seat.
Since he will take office on June 14, days after the expiration of his term in office as Speaker and his inauguration for a sixth term, Gbajabiamila will not resign as Speaker but would have to resign as a member of the House of Representatives. He will send the notice of his resignation to the new Speaker who will then write INEC, informing the electoral body of a vacant seat in the Green Chamber.
Who can participate in the election?
All the registered political parties can participate and sponsor candidates for the by-election.
Precedence:
This is not the first time lawmakers will be vacating their seats to take up other political offices.
In 2022, when Abdullahi Adamu and Abubakar Kyari were elected National Chairman and Deputy Chairman (North) respectively of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while serving as Senators, the duo resigned from the Senate. Senator Douye Diri also resigned from the Senate in 2020 after being sworn-in as Bayelsa state governor.
In 2018, when the member who represented Toro Federal Constituency of Bauchi state Lawal Yahaha Gumau was elected into the Senate to represent Bauchi South Senatorial District, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted a by-election to fill the vacant seat.
Seriake Dickson resigned from the House of Representatives in 2012 following his inauguration as Bayelsa state governor, a by-election was conducted to fill his seat. He had spent just one year as a member of the House of Representatives when he became Bayelsa state governor.
- Last updated: 4:45 pm, Friday, June 2, 2023.
