The election of Honourable Yusuf Lasun as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives may have slimmed the chance of the former Minority Leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila of becoming the next Majority Leader.

A lawmaker who spoke to Hallmark Newspaper on the condition of anonymity said that most lawmakers from the northern part of the country had refused to back Gbajabiamila on the ground that he is from South west.

The northern representatives argued that though Gbajabiamila was qualified to become the Majority Leader but because he had come from the same zone with Lasun, they would not support him for the position.

“It is not that Gbajabiamila is not qualified; he is eminently qualified, just like his qualities were recognised during the contest for the position of the Speaker. He is the most qualified.

“But, you see, a South-West person (Mr. Yussuf Lasun) has already been elected as the Deputy Speaker.

“We cannot afford to allow the same zone take the House Leader again. That will be too much legislative powers in one area”, a senior member from the North said.

Investigations showed that many North-West members with the APC controlling majority of about 87 lawmakers were now opposing Gbajabiamila.

Incidentally, his major backers for the position of the Speaker, which Gbajabiamila lost to the winner, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on June 9, came from the North-West.

Findings indicated that the agreement before the election was that Gbajabiamila would be the Speaker while Mr. Mohammed Monguno would be his deputy.

The position of the House Leader was to have been taken by a member from Kano State, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa.