Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham intends to delay his resignation from the House of Assembly to the end of August, The Nassau Guardian understands.
Ingraham had previously said he would resign effective today, the anniversary of his first election to the House in 1977.
But The Guardian has learnt that while he will hand in his resignation letter this morning, that resignation will not take effect until the end of August.
Ingraham is expected to make a formal announcement at a press conference at the House of Assembly at 9:30 a.m. today.
A delay in his resignation would allow Greg Gomez -- the Free National Movement's preferred pick to run in the North Abaco by-election -- to sort out his residency issue.
On Sunday, FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis confirmed that Gomez does not yet meet the constitutional requirement to run for public office.
Gomez lived in the United States up until August 2011, according to Minnis.
According to the constitution, a person who is eligible to be elected to the House of Assembly must have been an ordinary resident of The Bahamas "for a period of not less than one year immediately before the date of his nomination for election".
When Parliament opened on May 23, Ingraham told The Nassau Guardian it was his last day in the House of Assembly.
He has not attended any sittings of the new House outside opening day when he was sworn in.
The delayed resignation could provide Ingraham an opportunity to attend Parliament again and even make a farewell address as former Prime Minister the late Sir Lynden Pindling did in 1997.
But it is unclear whether Ingraham intends to say a formal farewell in Parliament.
He drew rebuke in some circles when he abruptly adjourned the House prior to the May 7 general election, denying retiring MPs like former Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia 'Mother' Pratt an opportunity to make formal farewell speeches.
Putting his resignation off to the end of August would mean that Ingraham would have to attend the House prior to then, or the North Abaco seat would automatically become vacant.
Under the rules of the House, if a member of Parliament is absent from the House without leave for a period of 90 days, he or she automatically vacates his seat. As indicated, Ingraham last attended a sitting of the House on May 23.
The delayed resignation could also impact Prime Minister Perry Christie's plan to hold a referendum on gambling before the end of the year.
Christie said recently that the timing of that referendum will be impacted by Ingraham's resignation because a by-election would take priority over the referendum.
Ingraham spent several days during the last week on a farewell tour in his constituency.
He hosted his final reception for the constituents of Dundas Town, Murphy Town and Central Pines on Monday evening.
He began his farewell tour on Saturday, visiting Green Turtle Cay. On Sunday, he visited Grand Cay where he attended services at the Shiloh Baptist Church.
He then traveled to Little Abaco. During his visit to his constituency, Ingraham stayed at his residence in Cooper's Town, according to a statement sent earlier in the week by FNM Chairman Charles Maynard.
Ingraham was elected to the House of Assembly for eight consecutive times, serving as a member of Parliament for 35 years. He served as prime minister from 1992 to 2002 and from 2007 to 2012 (15 years).
He was first elected leader of the FNM in 1990, succeeding the founding leader of the party, the late Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield.
Ingraham served for 19 nonconsecutive years as leader, the longest term in the history of the FNM.

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