From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The Plateau State House of Assembly has elected a new speaker.
He is Nanloong Daniel. He replaced Gabriel Dewan, who resigned his position on Wednesday, July 2.
The 24 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly ratified Daniel’s election as the new speaker in an emergency sitting at the temporary Assembly Complex, Old Government House, on Wednesday.
The election took place during a closed-door meeting with the State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Gabriel Dewan, and other lawmakers amid ongoing political tensions in the state.
Daniel, representing Mikang State Constituency and a former majority leader in the 9th Assembly, was unanimously chosen by his colleagues to lead them.
Dewan’s resignation had long been expected following the imbalance in the power equation in the House. Dewan, the lone member of the Young Progressives Party, was elected after the Appeal Court sacked the 16 members elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including the then Speaker, Moses Thomas Sule.
The session was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Gwotta Ajang.