8th National Assembly

8th National Assembly
Type
Type	bicameral
Houses	Senate House of Representatives
Leadership
President of the Senate	Bukola Saraki (APC) Since 9 June 2015
Speaker of the House	Yakubu Dogara (APC) Since 9 June 2015
Meeting place
National Assembly Building
Website
Official website

The 8th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a bicameral legislature inaugurated on June 9, 2015 and the assembly will run its course till June 9, 2019.^[1]

Composition

The assembly comprises the Senate and the House of Representatives.^[2] The National Assembly comprises 300 members elected across the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria.^[3] The House of Representative consists of 251 elected members and the Senate, a total of 109 members from which 59 were elected on the platform of the APC and 49 were elected on the platform of People's Democratic Party following the sudden death of Senator Ahmed Zanna elected on the platform of PDP to represent Borno Central.^[4][5]

Only six of the senators were women. The women elected were Stella Oduah and Uche Ekwunife who both represent Anambra, Monsurat Sunmonu from Oyo state, Fatimat Raji Rasaki, Oluremi Tinubu and Binta Garba.^[6]

Parliamentary elections

The Parliamentary elections was conducted at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, the federal capital territory, Nigeria.^[7]

Senatorial election

The Assembly was inaugurated on June 9, 2015 at around 10.am following the reading of the proclamation letter of General Muhammadu Buhari, the President of Nigeria, who ordered the inauguration of the Assembly. The letter was read by Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, the Clerk of the National Assembly.^[8][9] Out of the 59 Senators-elect, only 57 were in attendance, in line with the Senate Rule that stipulated that only two-third of the total Senators need to be present to form a quorum.^[10] Senator Bukola Saraki was nominated as candidate for the office of President of the Senate by Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima representing Zamfara Central and his nomination was seconded by Senator Dino Melaiye representing Kogi West.^[11] The clerk called for further nomination but the other aspirant for the office, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, representing Yobe North was absent and the clerk asked twice, if there is any other nomination before he drew the curtain to declare Senator Bukola Saraki winner and Senate President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.^[12] Senator Saraki's victory was followed by a resounding applause. He was led to the platform to take the oaths of office and allegiance led by the clerk.^[13] Saraki assumed offices immediately and took his seat as the Senate president, while the Assembly proceedings continued.^[14] Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate president of the 6th and 7th National Assembly was re-elected following his nomination by Senator George Thompson Sekibo.^[15] Senator Ekweremadu polled a total votes of 54 to defeat Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who polled only 20 votes.^[16]

House of representatives election

The election of the leadership of House of representatives was also conducted by the clerk.^[17] After two hours of voting process, Honorable Yakubu Dogara emerged as the Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives by 8 votes having polled 182 votes with 1 vote above the simple majority stipulated by the 1999 Constitution as mended, against honorable Femi Gbaja Biamila who polled 174 votes and two ballots were voided.^[18] Dogara was sworn in by the clerk, Alhaji Maikasuwa and he assumed office as Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives at around 4.45 pm.^[19]

References

1. "BREAKING: Yakubu Dogara emerges Speaker House of Reps - P.M. NEWS Nigeria". pmnewsnigeria.com. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
2. "Senate, House of Reps elect new leaders - LIVE UPDATES - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
3. "Random thoughts on the Eighth National Assembly elections". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
4. "Buhari accepts outcome of National Assembly elections". DailyPost Nigeria. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
5. "APC Says Outcome Of National Assembly Election Is Treachery - Channels Television". Channels Television. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
6. The 6 female senators in 8th National Assembly, Naij,com, Retrieved 15 February 2016
7. "Police Lockdown National Assembly Complex Ahead Of Crucial Legislative Elections". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
8. "N'Assembly debacle Buhari makes last minute intervention". Thisdaylive.com. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
9. "President Muhammadu Buhari Reacts To Election Outcomes Of Leaders Of The National Assembly". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
10. "N'Assembly-Saraki is Senate President". Thisdaylive.com. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
11. "Bukola Saraki emerges as Senate President". Vanguard News. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
12. "[UPDATED] Confusion as Saraki emerges Senate President". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
13. "Bukola Saraki elected Senate President - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
14. "BREAKING: Bukola Saraki Gives First Remarks As Controversial Senate President". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
15. "PDP's Ekeremadu returns as Deputy Senate President - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
16. "Ekweremadu re-elected as deputy senate president". Vanguard News. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
17. "Dogara defeats Gbajamiabila to emerge as Speaker". DailyPost Nigeria. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
18. "Dogara Emerges Speaker Of House Of Representatives - Channels Television". Channels Television. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
19. "Breaking news: Dogara defeats Gbajabiamila, emerges as House of Representatives Speaker". Vanguard News. Retrieved 10 June 2015.

External links

• Official website of the Nigerian National Assembly
• Assemblyonline news on the National Assembly
• Official People and Legislature Information Interchange