Despite Having Fewer Seats, Plateau Assembly Gets APC Speaker

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State Wednesday, June 10th, 2015

Agabus Pwanagba, Jos – Twenty four hours after the election of speaker for the Plateau State House of Assembly was stalled, the House has unanimously elected Hon. Peter Azi of the APC, representing Jos North-West as Speaker, while, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi of the PDP, representing Kantana Constituency emerged as his Deputy.

Despite PDP’s slim dominance in the House – 13 to APC’s 11 seats; Hon. Istifanus Mwansat who was contesting against Hon. Azi, stepped down for the APC candidate.

Recall that at yesterday’s (Tuesday) voting both APC and PDP candidate tied with 12 votes but the APC governor Lalong suspended the voting process due to “security reasons.”

The tie occurred in the 24-member house because a PDP member Hon. Amos Kumtul voted for the APC candidate.

Also for the position of the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Amos Kumtul, the PDP member who on Tuesday voted for the APC speaker candidate contested against another PDP lawmaker Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, but was defeated by 13 to 10 votes.

AFRICAN EXAMINER gathered that the lawmakers reached a consensus that Hon. Azi be elected speaker, because he is from the Northern Zone of the State, while Hon. Mwansat hails from Plateau Central, and the seat has been zoned to the North.

In his acceptance speech, the Speaker Hon. Azi, promised to carry all members along, irrespective of party affiliation even as h assured his colleagues that there will be a cordial working relationship between the legislature and executive for the development of the State.