Following the ongoing leadership issue that is roiling the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, a faction on the Nasarawa Stakeholders Forum platform has proclaimed Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi, who represents the Kokona East state constituency, as the legitimate Speaker.
However, the stakeholders forum requested that Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, the immediately previous speaker, quit posing as a factional speaker.
Comrade David Manga, the forum’s convener, said during a press conference on Friday in Abuja that the state is experiencing a situation in which one arm is attempting to usurp the role of the legislature by imposing a leadership on the Assembly that is not only unpopular but also rejected by the majority of the members of the House.
He claims that of the 24 members of the House of Assembly—the elected members at the time of the Assembly’s inauguration through a proclamation by the governor—13 have declared their intention to elect Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi, a member who represents the Kokona East State constituency, as the new speaker.
It is commonly recognized that democracy depends on the separation of powers principle, which establishes boundaries for the beginning and end of each branch’s authority, whether it be the executive, judicial branch, or legislative branch.
“This is being done to clear the way for inclusive, high-caliber leadership that respects members’ opinions and represents the desires and aspirations of the state’s citizens.
But to our dismay, attempts were made to seal the Assembly complex in an effort to scuttle proceedings and prevent the members from taking care of their proper business after they learned of this righteous and proper course of action.
“After the disturbance, a few of the members went and held a pretended meeting at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, a location outside the state House of Assembly’s purview, coming out to claim that they had elected the immediately previous Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, as Speaker for the third time in a row.
However, the motion was defeated outright when Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi was chosen as Speaker of the Assembly by 13 members, who made up the majority.
The Air Force and heavily armed police have been stating that Nasarawa State now has two speakers after realizing their preparations had failed.
The forum urged Balarabe-Abdullahi and others to see the writing on the wall and give up their claims of electing a Speaker because it never happened and lacks legitimacy to stand while stating that the Nasarawa State House of Assembly only has one speaker, Hon. Daniel Oga Ogazi.
“The only election that deserves the proper respect is the one in which Ogazi was elected after fulfilling the procedures for calling a meeting of the House members.
“Retaining Ogazi’s election is the right and proper course of action, as he was chosen by a majority of the members and the polls were properly cast in the state Assembly chamber.
In order for the House to begin meeting in earnest and pass laws for the benefit of our people, we implore Governor Abdullahi Sule to recognize and offer his hand of fellowship to the new speaker, Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi.