Violence as Gov. Wada inaugurates 6th Kogi Assembly

The immediate past Speaker of the Kogi House of Assembly, Alhaji Momoh-Jimoh Lawal, has been re-elected as Speaker of the newly inaugurated 6th legislative assembly of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the election followed the inauguration of the new assembly by Governor Idris Wada at the Assembly Complex on Thursday in Lokoja.

The governor had issued a proclamation for the holding of the first session of the 6th Assembly, thus paving the way for the Presiding Officer and Clerk of the House, Simon Momoh, to administer the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on the legislators.

After Momoh had administered the oath of office, he called for nominations for the election of principal officers of the House.

In response, Friday Sani (PDP-Igalamela/Odolu) nominated Lawal for the position of Speaker, saying he had collated signatures of members in support of the speakership of Lawal.

Sani was seconded by a new comer, Prince Matthew Kolawole (PDP-Kabba/Bunu), and the clerk called for voice votes and did same in the election of Aliyu Akuh (PDP-Omala) as Deputy Speaker.

Akuh was nominated by Victor Omofaye (PDP-Ijumu) and seconded by John Abah (PDP-Ibaji) for the position.

Other elected principal officers include Prince Matthew Kolawole as Majority Leader, Sunday Shigaba (PDP-Bassa) as Deputy Majority Leader, Friday Sani as Chief Whip and Mohammed Bello (APC-Ajaokuta) as Minority Leader.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that after the election of Lawal and Akuh as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively, Abdulmumuni Ibrahim (APC-Ankpa 1) raised objection relating to the election.

Ibrahim’s grievance was that the exercise was not properly conducted, adding that the clerk did not call for more nominations.

Also, Rabiu Alfa (APC-Ankpa II) decried the conduct of the election, describing it as an aberration.

Alfa said it was contrary to the rules and integrity of the House.

According to him, the integrity of the House should not be toyed with because its members are matured and responsible.

Responding, the clerk said the process of the exercise was irreversible and went ahead to conduct the rest of the elections.

This development led to pandemonium with 10 of the 11 All Progressives Congress members staging a walk-out.

The action further led to commotion in and outside the gallery, where angry youths and supporters of both parties resorted to violence and had to be tear-gassed by the police to restore peace.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the commotion, the Deputy Speaker, who is also a second timer, said all pending issues would be resolved before the next sitting.

The House, therefore, adjourned to August 13.

Akuh, however, said that the new members were yet to come to terms that politics in the House was different from what obtained outside the parliament.

NAN.

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