Plateau State Assembly Elects Minority Member As Speaker

Honourable Peter Azi, representing Jos
North-West of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), yesterday, emerged as the
new speaker of the Plateau State House of
Assembly in a rescheduled election.
The Assembly, Tuesday, shelved its plenary
and inaugural sitting after an election
stalemate between former speaker, Istifanus
Mwansat (PDP), and Hon Peter Azi (APC),
who scored 12 votes each in a 24-member
House.
PDP has 13 elected members against 11
from APC. However, a member of PDP
refused to tow his party line but voted for
the APC candidate instead thus resulting in
the two contenders having the same
number of votes.
However, at the commencement of the
proceedings yesterday, Mwansat willingly
withdrew his candidacy, making Azi to be
elected as speaker unopposed.
The reschedule election which was done at
the committee room of the Assembly also
saw a keen contest for the office of the
deputy speaker between member
representing Kanam-Kantana, Yusuf Adamu
Gagdi (PDP) and member representing
Langtang North central, Hon. Amos
Vongtim Kumtul (PDP).
Gagdi emerged victorious, polling 13 votes
against Kumtul’s 11 votes.
Honourable Azi was thereafter sworn in by
the clerk of the House, Honourable Ayuba
Gongu, as the duly elected speaker of the
House.
Speaking to newsmen soon after
adjournment of proceedings, Mwansat said
he withdrew from the race in the interest of
the state.
However, a member who pledged
anonymity, told our correspondent that the
two parties reached an agreement to allow
APC produce the the speaker while the
position of the deputy speaker went to the
PDP.