Group Alleges Plan To Exempt Some Members-elect From Nasarawa Assembly Inauguration

A group under aegies of Concerned Citizens, says a plot is on to exempt certain members elect from participating in the inauguration of the 7th Nasarawa State House of Assembly.

Our correspondent reports that the 6th Assembly officially winded up after its valedictory session last Wednesday.

Governor Abdullahi Sule is expected to make a proclamation and inaugurate the 7th Assembly in the coming days.

The Assembly is expected to elect its new leadership after it comes on stream.

So far, three returning members including the immediate past speaker, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi have indicated interest to lead the 7th Assembly.

Others include Mr Daniel Ogah Ogazi representing Kokona East; Danladi Jatau, ,representing Kokona West.

The trio belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and will have to fight for votes of members elect from their platform as well as those in the opposition.

Recall that the outcome of the 2023 governorship and State Assembly polls put the ruling party in a serious disadvantage.

APC won 11 seats against PDP’s eight, while other minority parties like the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have three  and two respectively.

The votes tally showed that the opposition parties collectively have 13 against the ruling party’s 11.

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Lafia,  the group which was  led by Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed and Salihu Abdullahi Osuko, alleged plans by the camp of the immediate past speaker to cause confusion that may stop some members elect who are against him from participating in the inauguration.

They however vowed to resist such “anti-democratic moves” at any cost.

Hon. Osuko who read the position on behalf of others said, “We are determined to expose other enemies of the state who either by hook or crook want to cause confusion in the state by orchestrating a plan to hold an illegal inauguration of the 7th assembly, where only Pro Balarabe Abdullahi members elect will be allowed into the hallowed chamber to vote.

“The concerned APC youth group is also aware that His Excellency Governor Abdullahi Sule is blindly supporting the imposition of the immediate past speaker Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi for the third term.

“Mr Governor sir, we want to assure you that we will resist any attempt to set the state on fire therefore, we are urging His Excellency Governor Abdullahi Sule to play the role of a good father in this matter.

“ Your Excellency sir, you are the chief security officer of the state and you have been demonstrating that in the past four years, that is why Nasarawa is among the most peaceful and progressive states in Nigeria. Therefore, the election of speaker NSHA must not be a do-or-die affairs that can put the state into anarchy or chaos.

“ At this juncture, we are calling on all security agencies in the state as well as all peace loving people of Nasarawa state to shine their eyes and stand up against enemies of the state who are so desperate to get or maintain power at the expense of the general peace and development of the state.

“We urge the governor and the party leadership to allow democratic principles and ideas to prevail, members should be allowed to choose among themselves a speaker and deputy speaker of their choice as enshrined in the Constitution.”