In controversial, separate elections held yesterday, two members of the seventh Nasarawa State House of Assembly have emerged as speakers for the parliament.
The elected speakers — Daniel Ogazi and Ibrahim Balarabe — arrived at the Assembly complex in Lafia, the state capital for the inauguration of the newly elected members of the assembly which was postponed.
The notice of the postponement was convened in a statement on Tuesday by the acting Clerk of the House, Ibrahim Musa, explaining that it was based on security advice made available to Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Ogazi, a member representing Kokona East constituency refused to leave the assembly premises and conducted an election in which he emerged as Speaker after getting 14 votes.
A moment after, the immediate past speaker of the House, Balarabe, who is seeking reelection, moved to the state Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and conducted an election to emerge as speaker after scoring 10 votes.
Both Balarabe who served as the Speaker in the last fifth and sixth Nasarawa State Assembly and Ogazi are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Thirteen members-elect are believed to be supporters of Ogazi, while 11 members were loyal to Balarabe.
While Balarabe’s faction elected Jacob Kudu as deputy speaker, Ogazi’s camp elected Mohammed Oyanki.
