The Plateau State House of Assembly has elected a new speaker. This follows the forceful resignation of John Clark as the Speaker on Wednesday.
Mr. Clark resigned after pressure was mounted on him by his colleagues who asked him to quit or be impeached. Another lawmaker, Titus Alarms, from Bokkos constituency, was promptly elected as the new speaker. Both the old and new speaker are from the Plateau Central Senatorial District where the office was zoned.
Reports claim that the lawmakers were each offered N1million by the former speaker to stave off impeachment and remain in office. The lawmakers, however, insisted he leaves office. The Plateau lawmakers have also impeached the deputy speaker, John-bull Shekaru, who represents Shendam constituency, and refused to resign from office.
Mr. Shekaru's impeachment was supported by 17 of the 24 members of the Assembly while 5 voted against it. Joyce Rapnap, representing Langtang South, was elected new deputy speaker. The old and new Assembly leaders are members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. The new leaders were sworn-in at the Assembly complex located at the Government House, Rayfield.
The lawmakers had accused the outgone speaker and his deputy of being weak and being too close to the Executive. They claimed the closeness hindered the Assembly from carrying out its functions effectively. The lawmakers also accused the outgone leadership of not scrutinising bills and proposals from the executive because of the alleged closeness.
The Assembly, which resumed from its one month recess on September 23, has not been able to hold plenary due to the impeachment threat against the former speaker.
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