Leadership tussle: Nasarawa Assembly resolves crisis, elects Abdullahi as speaker

The 7th Nasarawa State House of Assembly has elected Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, Speaker.

Abdullahi represents Umaisha/ Ugya constituency on the platform of the APC.

The assembly also elected Mr Abel Bala ( PDP- Nassarawa Eggon West) as the Deputy Speaker of the 7th Assembly.

Mr Ibrahim Musa, the Acting Clerk of the House announced this during the inauguration of the members of the 7th Assembly on Friday in Lafia.

The clerk said that the inauguration was in line with Gov. Abdullahi Sule’s proclamation of the assembly.

Mr Mohammed Oyanki ( PDP- Doma North) nominated Abdullahi for the position of the Speaker which was seconded by Larry Ven-Bawa ( APC- Akwanga North).

Dr Peter Akwe ( PDP- Obi I) nominated Bala for the position of Deputy Speaker which was seconded by Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu ( APC- Awe South)

In his acceptance speech, the speaker pledged to provide an all inclusive leadership in the interest of peace and development of the state..

” I want to congratulate Hon members on your inauguration and for electing me to serve as speaker of the seventh assembly.

” I have presided over the affairs of this Assembly in the last eight years with all sense of fairness and fear of God.

” I want to assure you that I will continue in that spirit.

” I will also continue to operate an open door policy as I have done in the last eight years,” he said.

Abdullahi assured the staff of the assembly of his continued readiness to improve on their welfare.

He assured Gov. Sule of the assembly’s continued partnership and collaboration for the overall development of the state.

” We must join hands with other arms of government to achieve speedy development across the state,” he said.

All the 24 members were in attendance during the inauguration.

According to reports, it states that on June 6, the inauguration of the 7th Assembly was postponed, citing security advice from the government over speakership tussle between members elected on the platform of the APC and the PDP.

The disagreements over the choice of the next speaker of the assembly led to the postponement of the inauguration of the seventh State assembly on June 6.

Also reports that 13 members of the house who are on ground are said to be in support of a member, Daniel Ogazi, who is vying for the position of house leader, insisting that the postponement of the inauguration is illegal.

11 other members who are in support of Abdullahi were not on ground.

The State assembly complex was manned by security operatives who prevented visitors from gaining access into the premises.