Dogara is elected speaker

The house of representatives on Tuesday elected Yakubu Dogara (Bauchi) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the speaker.

Dogara scored 182 votes, defeating Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos) who had 174 votes. A total of 358 votes were cast while two were voided.

Gbajabiamila was the official candidate of the APC.

Dogara was subsequently declared winner of the election by the clerk of the national assembly, Salisu Abubakar Mai Kasuwa‎.

There was intermittent jubilation from supporters of the two lawmakers as the votes were being counted.

Bukola Saraki had earlier been voted senate president against the wishes of the APC hierarchy.

PDP endorsed both Saraki and Dogara.