From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly may have found itself in a bitter and protracted power struggle at the moment. An event that was meant to be a routine inauguration of the Seventh Assembly on June 6 turned out to be a chaotic one, with the sudden emergence of two factions that produced the Speakers. One faction, comprising 10 members, held its inaugural sitting at the state Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs in Lafia, and elected Ibrahim Balarabe as the Speaker. The other 13-member faction had its meeting at the House of Assembly Chamber along Lafia/Shendam Road, where the principal officers of the state House of Assembly were elected, with Daniel Ogah Ogazi, emerging as the Speaker.
Since then, each of the factions has continued to claim legitimacy and control of the legislative arm of Nasarawa State Government.
The tussle has thrown the state into confusion, leaving the citizens and political observers wondering which of the two factions is on the side of the law, even as they watch with keen interest how the quagmire will be resolved.
On one corner is Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe, the immediate past Speaker of the Sixth Assembly and the favoured candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Balarabe Abdullahi is alleged to have been hurriedly endorsed by Governor Abdullahi Sule, and the party loyalists, regardless of the fact that there were only 10 members in the group.
They argued that the Balarabe Adbullahi-led faction holds a position that aligns with the state government’s interests, which has promised stable governance under their leadership.
On the other side of the divide is Hon. Ogazi, the former House Committee Chairman on Education and member of the APC. Ogazi’s faction, supported by 13 members, which included members from the opposition political parties, alleged that the state government planned to install a rubber-stamp speaker in the state House of Assembly.
They claimed that Balarabe Abdullahi is merely a puppet for the ruling party, having every tendency to compromise the Assembly’s autonomy and integrity.
“Mr. Ogazi (APC, Kokona East) has been declared as the ‘Speaker in-Waiting’ of the Seventh Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) scheduled for inauguration today, Tuesday June 06. We have the simple majority led by our leading Speaker in Waiting, Ogah Ogazi. He’s our next Speaker,” the group stated.
Following the unfolding drama, the Balarabe Abdullahi’s faction resorted to an alternative venue for their inauguration, citing security concerns at the Assembly complex as reason. They found solace in the conference hall of the Ministry Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, where the Clerk of the Assembly swore them in. The presence of the Assembly’s staff lent credibility to their claim, further deepening the controversy surrounding the tussle.
Reacting to the development, some citizens of Nasarawa State have taken their grievances to the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force in Abuja, demanding for the removal of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Maiyaki Baba. They are accusing him of conspiring with the state government to hinder the Ogazi-led faction from carrying out their legislative functions. The protesters claimed that the police’s actions displayed a biased approach to the ongoing tussle.
Also reacting, the APC has issued a stern warning to members who oppose the will of the party. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ataru Douglas, emphasized the importance of upholding the wishes of the party leaders. There seem to be no love lost within the ranks of the state APC, and this could be attributed to the tacit connivance of some members with the opposition elements whose aim is to destabilize the state.
“The party strongly condemned such rebellious behaviour and warned that it would no longer tolerate acts that bring disrepute to its name,” the publicity secretary was quoted to have warned.
Political analysts and commentators have all agreed to label the situation as a “merciless” power struggle. The conflicting factions have drawn attention to the state, casting a shadow over its political stability.
Speculations abound, with some suggesting that the clash is a manifestation of the rivalries between political gladiators vying for influence over the state’s governance. Others contend that it is a mere political maneuver to safeguard the Assembly’s independence from the executive’s interference.
One theory gaining traction is the dissatisfaction among some newly elected members, who felt slighted by the governor’s open endorsement of Balarabe Abdullahi. At a stakeholders’ meeting that was attended by Governor Sule, the APC’s state Chairman, Dr John Mamman, Secretary, Alh Aliyu Bello, and all the 11 APC members-elect, primarily focused on the upcoming inauguration of the State Assembly, the state APC chairman, Dr John Mamman wasted no time to announce that the party had resolved to endorse the incumbent Speaker, Balarabe Abdullahi, for the sake of continuity and consolidation.
“I am telling you authoritatively that the meeting took place at the Presidential Lodge in the Government House, Lafia, and had Governor Sule in attendance, as well as the APC’s state Chairman, Dr John Mamman, his Secretary, Alh Aliyu Bello and all the 11 APC members-elect. The State Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe was also in attendance.
“Dr Mamman was the one that opened the floor and went straight to the point that the party had resolved and settled for the incumbent Speaker for continuity and consolidation. He added that the Speaker’s leadership was fruitful, peaceful and beneficial to the entire state. Mamman’s position was corroborated by the party’s secretary, Alh Aliyu Bello.”
As the power struggle rages, key players behind the scenes are alleged to be shaping the direction of the conflict. Former governors and former ministers are alleged to be among the figures supporting the Ogazi faction in their bid for political control in the state.
Speculations surrounding their involvement gained credibility as multiple sources revealed that a former governor, believed to be Ogazi’s godfather, is alleged to have orchestrated a deal with the opposition party. The deal is believed to secure the support of the members in the Seventh Assembly, and this also explained the former governor’s withdrawal of his court case challenging the winner of the Nasarawa South Senatorial District election, Senator Muhammed Ogoshi Onawo.
Amidst the intense political drama, there are questions regarding the legality of the factions’ claims to the Speaker position. The law plays a crucial role in determining the person that becomes the Speaker of a state assembly.
To compound the already complex situation, on June 16, members of the Balarabe Adbullahi’s faction (G10) approached the Nasarawa State High Court through the Ministry of Justice, seeking to restrain Ogazi from parading himself as the Speaker. Simultaneously, another order was issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja, instructing both factions to maintain the status quo until the case is resolved.
“In a decisive move to address the ongoing leadership crisis that has plagued the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, the State Government, through the Ministry of Justice, filed an ex parte motion on June 14, to bar Ogazi’s faction from parading himself as the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
“The motion was heard on June 15, at High Court 1, presided over by the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Hon Justice Aisha Bashir Aliyu.”
In another twist, “the Federal High Court in Abuja, last week, issued a restraining order against Balarabe abdullahi and Jacob Ajegana Kudu, preventing them from parading themselves as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA).
“The order was issued by Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu in response to an ex-parte motion filed by Ogazi and 12 others, represented by Z.K Usman and L.O Olaniregun.”
Analysts have raised concerns about the legality of both factions, arguing that neither possesses the necessary two-thirds majority of members to be sworn in as the Speaker. They point to the altered electoral law, signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, which states that 2/3 of 24 members is 16; neither of the two factions has got that number.
The legal ambiguity surrounding the Speakership position further complicates the already volatile situation in Nasarawa State. It raises questions about the rule of law, democratic principles, and the ability of the Assembly to effectively govern and address the needs of the state’s citizens.
The battle for Speakership is overshadowing the pressing issues facing Nasarawa State. Governance has been stifled, and the state’s progress has been hindered by the ongoing political impasse. The inability to reach a resolution quickly has the capacity to prolong the instability and further undermine the public’s trust in the political system.
As the case proceeds in both the Nasarawa State High Court and the Federal High Court in Abuja, the fate of the Speakership position and the political landscape of the state hang in the balance. It remains to be seen how the courts will interpret the law and whether they will provide a clear and definitive ruling on the matter.
Beyond the legal intricacies, the involvement of influential figures adds another layer of complexity to the conflict. The motivations behind their support for the Ogazi-led faction raise questions about power dynamics and political alliances within Nasarawa State.
Stakeholders within the state have urged that Governor Sule should be properly briefed on the recent alterations in the law. They argued that the governor’s understanding of the legal nuances surrounding the Speakership position is crucial in finding a lasting solution to the issue at hand. Stakeholders hope that the governor’s intervention would help navigate the delicate political landscape and restore stability to Nasarawa State.
The situation in Nasarawa State remains fluid, and the outcome of the power struggle is uncertain. As party warnings are issued, protests ensue, and stakeholders call for the governor’s attention, the need for a swift and fair resolution becomes more apparent.