Nasarawa Speakership: APC, Gov. Sule endorses incumbent for third term

****Says Nasarawa never conducted speakership election but on consensus 24 year ago

By David Okpashi

The rulling All Progressive Congress APC in Nasarawa State has reportedly endorsed the incumbent speaker of the state House of Assembly ahead of the innauguration of the 7th Assembly next week.

This is even as a Source close to the assembly also confirmed to our correspondent that the governor of the state, Abdullahi Sule has give his nod to the return of the incumbent speaker in the 7th Assembly.

The state executive council leadership of the Tuesday held several hours meeting of the party in Presidential Lodge, Government House Lafia where a decision was reached that the party should work and ensure that the incumbent speaker emerged as the speaker of the seventh assembly.

This the source said the meeting has just one agenda which was the position of the Speakership of the State Assembly expected to be inaugurated June 7th..

” I am telling you authoritatively that the meeting took place at Presidential Lodge in Government House Lafia and had Governor Abdullahi Sule in attendance as well as APC State Chairman, Dr.John mamman, his Secretary, Alh. Aliyu Bello and all the Eleven APC members – elect as well as the State Deputy Governor Dr Emmanuel Akabe ”

“The APC Chairman Dr. John mamman was the one that opens the flooor and went straight to the one point agenda that the party has resolved and settled for incumbent Speaker Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi for continuity and consolidation”

The meeting according to the impeccable source dded that Speaker Balarabe’s leadership was fruitful, peaceful and beneficial to the entire State and John Mamman position was collaborated by the party secretary Alh. Aliyu Bello”

“The meeting however called for comments and contributions from members – elect where some of them spoke before the final submission was made by Governor Sule”

“The Governor was emphatic on his position, desire and stands on the choice of incumbent Speaker Balarabe Abdullahi”

“The Governor was not tactical but open and straight that his candidate is Balarabe Abdullahi and the need for Members – elect to support his choice which eventually is the choice of the party”

It was also gathered that Hon. Danladi Jatau (APC Kokona East) a contestant for the Speakership position withdrew his candidature and pledged his loyalty to the party, to the governor and the incumbent speaker.

It would be recalled that since the inception of Nasarawa State House of Assembly 24 years ago from 1999 to date, election of Speaker has never held for the six term session, but all through consensus.

This was as a result of peace, unity and understanding in the State Assembly as a family affairs and it is believed and hoped that by next week inauguration of the 7th assembly members – elect will sustain same.

A pace has already been set and it is hope that members – elect shall do that in unity and peace by nominating a competent Speaker through consensus which has already been established in the system that produced late Musa Agyo 1999 to 2003, Ogoshi Onawo 2003 to 2007, Musa Ahmed Muhammed 2007 to 2015 and Balarabe Abdullahi 2015 till date.