Following the emergence of two Speakers at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on the day of its inauguration, COLLINS SUNDAY examines the issues that led to the crisis and the path to peace in the hallowed chamber
It’s the season of inaugurating state Assemblies, and Tuesday, June 6, was the turn of Nasarawa State House of Assembly. In accordance with the law, Governor Abdullahi Sule was expected to issue the proclamation, and many residents of the state looked forward, with keen interest, to the exercise, especially those who would pilot the affairs of the chamber for the next four years.
But, rather than a peaceful inauguration, controversy soon broke out, and by evening of that day, two speakers emerged from two separate inaugurations that were held at two different venues. The situation has rightly been described as an anomaly.
Shortly after the election was concluded and in the run-up to the inauguration, the immediate past Speaker of the Assembly, Ibrahim Abdullahi, who represents Umaisha/Ugya constituency, showed interest in recontesting the speakership position having been re-elected. But he was not unopposed like some of his colleagues in some states. Another member, Daniel Ogazi, who represents Kokona East constituency, also expressed interest in the number one position.
Thus, it became clear that the contest would be between the two of them, both members of the governing All Progressives Congress in the state. Knowing what was at stake, soon began lobbying other members-elect to support their ambitions to lead the House for the next four years.
While Abdullahi was seeking a third term as the Speaker of the House, Ogazi was contesting the top position for the first time.
As the inauguration day approached, it became clear that the former speaker would enjoy the support of both the party and the government. Thus, reports said Ogazi reached out to the members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to support his ambition.
As it turned out, the former speaker got 10 members-elect on his side, making 11 in all, while Ogazi got the 12 others, making 13. There are 24 members in the Assembly.
Meanwhile, the proclamation issued by the governor indicated that the inauguration would take place on Tuesday, June 6, by the Acting Clerk, Ibrahim Musa, in the Assembly.
But as preparation reached its crescendo for the inauguration and the contest, the acting clerk of the Assembly released a press statement, announcing the postponement of the events of the day indefinitely. He cited security issues as the reason for the postponement.
The clerk’s statement read, “The Acting Clerk, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Musa wishes to inform all honourable members-elect and the general public that based on security advice, the scheduled inauguration of the first session of the seventh Assembly as directed by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr Abdullahi Sule, is hereby postponed.
“In view of the above, a rescheduled time will be communicated to all honourable members-elect and the general public. We regret any inconveniences this postponement may have caused.”
At the time the announcement was made, members-elect loyal to Ogazi and their supporters who came from across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state to witness the ceremony at the Assembly complex opposed the development as they were already outside the complex.
Immediately after the announcement, there was heavy security presence at the Assembly complex.
The security agents barricaded the entrance and prevented everyone, including the 13 members-elect loyal to Ogazi, from gaining access into the Assembly premises.
Ogazi told journalists then that the blockage of the entrance was unfortunate, as he called on the government to intervene in the matter.
He stated, “The 13 of us are here to perform our legitimate constitutional responsibility to elect the speaker and the deputy speaker. Unfortunately, the security men blocked the gate saying it’s an order from above. A proclamation has been issued to the state House of Assembly and the clerk acknowledged the receipt and approved that our inauguration will be today (Tuesday), so nobody on earth can alter it.”
Few hours later, the 10 members-elect loyal to the former Speaker moved to the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, where they were inaugurated by the acting clerk, who had previously postponed the inauguration. The former speaker was voted to retain his seat.
While that went on, the Ogazi group eventually gained entrance into the Assembly complex, where the 12 members-elect loyal to him were inaugurated by a civil servant, and subsequently, Ogazi was voted as the speaker of the House.
Since then, the Assembly has had two Speakers to oversee one Assembly.
There were rumours that two former governors of the state preferred Ogazi to become the speaker. But on the other hand, the incumbent governor said publicly that he preferred Abdullahi to retain his seat because he had worked with him, he was sworn in by the acting clerk, and according to him, the state chapter of the party preferred him, having been satisfied with the way he had handled the Assembly in the past.
Despite the controversy that led to the emergence of the two speakers, the governor received Abdullahi at the Government House on the same day.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, the governor stated, “My choice was the person I had worked with for the last four years. I met him as a speaker; I worked with him, and we had a very peaceful state.
“Nasarawa State is considered one of the most peaceful states, and it’s because of the kind of relationship I had with him. It is the same thing with the Chief Judge. I have a wonderful relationship with the CJ. The three arms of government in Nasarawa State have an excellent working relationship.”
Commenting on the crisis, he said, “Politicians can sometimes create big things out of nothing. These two gentlemen (speakers) who contested against each other are best of friends. They know each other much longer than I knew them. Now they are having problems between themselves because one wants the position of the other.
Already, Abdullahi inaugurated the only female legislature in the Assembly, Hajara Danyaro, and named the principal officers during an emergency sitting. He also led the 10 other members to approve the request of the governor for him to appoint 20 Special Advisers.
He told his colleagues that the governor had approved the renovation of the Assembly complex. After the sitting, his faction of the House proceeded for a one-month recess.
“We are proceeding on recess today, June 8, 2023, to resume on July 10, 2023, to enable the Ministry of Works to renovate the House as approved by His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule,” he added.
Meanwhile, the state police command has sealed off the Assembly complex.
The police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ramhan Nansel, in an interview with our correspondent in Lafia, said the Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Baba, gave the directive following consultations with other security agencies in the state.
He stated, “No member of the two factions will be allowed entry into the Assembly complex until sanity is restored. Armoured personnel carrier has been stationed at the main gate of the Assembly complex and our personnel have been deployed in their numbers to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
“The Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Baba, is determined to keep Nasarawa State peaceful, so we will not allow any troublemaker to disturb the peace that we have been enjoying in this state,” he added.
APC takes stand
Interestingly, both Abdullahi and Ogazi are members of the APC.
Meanwhile, the APC in the state said it would only recognise Abdullahi. The publicity secretary, Otaru Douglas, told our correspondent in an interview that the party decided to support him because he had been able to establish a good working relationship between the legislature and executive.
He stated, “The quagmire revolving around the leadership of the seventh Assembly is normal in politics, but I can assure you that the party is solidly behind the emergence of Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi as the speaker of the assembly, because he had proven to be a good leader. His good working relationship with the executive arm of government made it possible for the developmental strides achieved by His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule, and because we want the mutual understanding between both arms of government to be sustained. That is why we are supporting him to continue as Speaker of the seventh Assembly.
“We have made our position known and the supremacy of the party must be upheld. So, we are calling on the remaining APC lawmakers who haven’t been sworn in to avail themselves of the ritual.”
Lawyers suggest solution
Reacting to the situation, a popular lawyer in the state, Ayiwulu Baba Ayiwulu, said it was unconstitutional for the Assembly to have two speakers. He however added that the election held in the hallowed chamber of the Assembly was the one recognised by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ayiwulu stated, “The law that we have to obey is the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the provisions of sections 92, 94, and 98 thereof. It has laid down the principle to address this situation at hand. The provisions are clear and unambiguous. They derive their strength from section 1 of the constitution which states that anything done outside the provisions of the constitution to that extent is illegal.
“If at all there is a Speaker known to the law, it is the one whose election proceeding was conducted in the hallowed chamber of the state Assembly; if at all there is anyone among them who met such qualification.
“What we hear from the background is that there are two speakers. Ogazi was elected in the state House of Assembly chamber and Abdullahi was elected at the Ministry of Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs. His own case was that he was refused access into the House of Assembly chamber for the purpose of contesting the election.”
He said the number of members-elect who voted was a separate matter, in addition to where the election was held.
He added, “So, since sections 92, 94 and 98 have already made it clear the way and manner of conducting the state House of Assembly elections, the one conducted at the hallowed chamber of the state House of Assembly on June 6 is the valid one and the one recognised by law. As far as I am concerned, we have one Speaker for the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.”
On the way forward, he said, “Since the constitution has provided the way of doing things, I will only advice that the valid one should proceed to court so that he can seek the interpretation of sections 92, 94 and 98 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as it relates to the factional election of the state House of Assembly in Nasarawa State.”
Another legal practitioner in the state, Innocent Lagi, faulted the governor for having a preferred candidate for the speakership position, saying the governor was responsible for the crisis in the Assembly.
He stated, “First of all, I don’t think that there was an inauguration. There were two different elections held for the speakership position, and the clerk of the House was supposed to act constitutionally, so there was no way he could swear in somebody unconstitutionally.
“It is very clear that the activities carried out by the clerk of the House of Assembly were not conducted on the floor of the House or even on its premises. Sections 92, 94 and 98 of the Constitution are clear on this.
“I think it is not a responsible act for Governor Abdullahi Sule to allow such things to happen under his watch. You should not destroy the arms of government because of your desires to achieve a particular objective.”
Lagi called on leaders at all levels to act responsibly, adding that the governor was supposed to lobby the members-elect and then allow the process to go smoothly so that they would elect their leaders by themselves.
“You cannot have 11 members out of 24 and think you are winning. It is a loss. So, I think it is irresponsible for him to govern this way.
“The governor should do the right thing based on the provisions of the law. He has to dissolve the House and issue a proclamation for the new Assembly, and let the 24 members-elect vote for their leaders as he is not supposed to choose a leader for them.”
