Femi Gbajabiamila has resigned his membership of the 10th House of Representatives.
Gatekeepers News reports that Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, read Gbajabiamila’s letter of resignation during plenary on Wednesday.
Following his resignation, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas declared the seat vacant and stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission is expected to conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant seat.
Gbajabiamila said his resignation is to enable him assume the role of chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu.
Until his resignation, Femi Gbajabiamila was the member of the House representing Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State and Speaker of the 9th Assembly.
Gbajabiamila officially presented his letter of resignation to Speaker Abbas at exactly 12.12 pm.
In the letter read by the Speaker, Gbajabiamila informed the House of his appointment as Chief of Staff to the President and the need to exit the House to serve.
He thanked members of the House for their support throughout his stay in the House, especially in the last four years when he served as Speaker.
Gbajabiamila said: “It is with mixed feelings that I want to, at this time, at this moment and at this hour and this minute present to this House, my letter of resignation from this House”.
The letter, which takes effect from June 14, 2023, reads in part: “I write to tender my resignation as a member of the 10th House of Representatives.
“As you are aware, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked that I come and join him as Chief of Staff.
“After my long service in the House of Representatives, I have agreed to serve in this capacity. Serving in the House of Representatives has been a great honour for which I remain eternally grateful to God, the good people of SuruLere Lagos and Nigerians and all those who have supported me in different ways.
“I thank all those who have made my time in the House memorable, especially thank my colleagues in the 9th House of Representatives for electing me as Speaker and supporting me throughout our tenure. I congratulate you on your election as Speaker and as you resume”.
The former Speaker left the Chamber after his letter was read by the Speaker at exactly 12.14 pm to a standing ovation from members and was escorted out by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu and a few other members.
Abbas said the House will miss Gbajabiamila while wishing him well in his new endeavour.
He however said: “With this letter of resignation, I want to declare the seat for SuruLere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State vacant from today”.
