Change in Leadership: Plateau Assembly Adhered to Zoning Arrangement- Spokesman

Hon. Matthew Kwarpo, the Spokesman of the Plateau State 10th Assembly and member representing Mangu South State Constituency has said the change in leadership of the Assembly on Wednesday was done in adherence to the local zoning arrangement of the state.

Kwarpo who is the Chairman House Committee on Information, stated this while fielding questions from the House of Assembly press crew on Thursday at the Assembly complex in Jos.

At a plenary on Wednesday, the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Dewan representing Pankshin North under the platform of Young People’s Party, YPP, tendered his resignation and stepped aside, where the members immediately elected Hon. Naanlong Daniel of the All Progressives Congress APC, from Mikang Constituency as Speaker.

According to the 10th Assembly Spokesman, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Dewan emerged as speaker following the interruption of the House by the Court of Appeal that sacked 16 People’s Democratic Party PDP, members in November 2023, to stabilize the House.

He said looking at the zonal arrangement of the state and after stabilizing the house, there was every need for the zoning system to be adhered to, though not constitutional but an understanding by the entire Plateau people.

“And so Rt. Hon. Dewan as a stabilizer who was in dire need by the Plateau people to stabilize the House of Assembly, thought it wise to give way to the 22 APC members to elect their speaker.

“So yesterday Rt. Hon. Dewan in the spirit of understanding, unity, development and good governance, decided to resign and step aside at the plenary honorably that the house should elect a new leader who was expected to come from southern zone and from the APC bloc. That was done peacefully through election among the 23 members present at the plenary yesterday.” Said Hon. Kwarpo.

Kwarpo opined that with the historic election of the new speaker, the former majority leader and a three time member of the house, he will bring his legislative wealth of experience to bear in giving the state the best in terms of legislative businesses.

He added that people of the state should expect full scale legislative activities that will propel unity and development in the state under the current leadership of the APC in the Assembly.

He also said that very soon the House will resume legislative businesses in the state Assembly Complex as assured by the new speaker who promised to get the contractor handling the rehabilitation of the house to get the job done immediately.