Nasarawa State Assembly Speakership Tussle: APC Supports Hon. Balarabe Abdullahi 

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has thrown its weight behind the re-emergence of Rt. Hon. Balarabe Abdullahi as Speaker of the 7th State House of Assembly with the ongoing speakership tussle.

The State Caretaker Chairman of the party, Dr. John Mamman, made the position of the party known when he led other party officials on a congratulatory visit to the Speaker in Lafia, the State capital.

He described the impasse revolving around the leadership of the 7th Assembly as a normal occurrence within the political circle, reiterating the party’s support for Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi as the Speaker of the 7th Assembly.

Members of the State Assembly had on Tuesday, 6th June 2023, held two parallel proceedings, which resulted in the emergence of two different Speakers for the Assembly.

They are the immediate past Speaker Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, who is seeking a third term as speaker and Hon. Daniel Ogazi, a member representing Kokona East constituency in the Assembly.

While Balarabe-Abdullahi was elected at a sitting which took place at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogazi emerged as Speaker from the proceedings at the State Assembly complex.

The situation at hand indicates that Balarabe-Abdullahi and Ogazi are to serve as the speakers of the 7th Assembly in the State, except there is an intervention.

“Rt. Hon. Speaker, sir, we are solidly behind your emergence as you have proven to be a good leader.

“You have provided all-inclusiveness which has promoted peace in the State.

“Your good working relationship with the Executive arm made it possible for the developmental strides achieved by His Excellency Gov. Abdullahi Sule in the State,” he said, while insisting that the mutual understanding between the Legislative and Executive arms of government in the State should be sustained for development to thrive.

The chairman said the supremacy of the party must be upheld, calling on the remaining APC lawmakers who have not been sworn in to avail themselves of the ritual.

Responding, the Speaker Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi commended the party for standing by him, saying under his watch, the 7th Assembly will continue to synergize with the Executive arm to initiate laws that will have a direct bearing on the lives of the masses.

While maintaining that the APC, as a ruling party, should not be divided on primordial affiliations, the Speaker said he was propelled to go in for the third term because the government and the party were still demanding his legislative prowess, which he chose to offer.

Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi called on the people of the State not to allow the Assembly crisis to disrupt the existing peace, expressing optimism that the situation would be resolved politically.

He seized the opportunity to reassure the people of Nasarawa State of cordial working relationships with other arms of government in order to promote peace and achieve speedy development in the State.