The All Progressives Congress, APC, is now in full control of the Plateau State House of Assembly following the sudden resignation of the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Dewan who threw in the towel on Wednesday.
Following Dewan’s resignation, the 24 members of the Assembly, in an emergency plenary session held at the temporary Assembly Complex at the Old Government House, Jos, elected Hon. Nanloong Daniel of the APC who was the Majority Leader and member representing Mikang State Constituency in the 9th Assembly, as their new Speaker.
Hon. Ajang Azi, also of the APC representing Jos North West State Constituency, was elected Deputy Speaker, while other principal officers were also elected from the APC
The immediate past Speaker who was elected on the platform of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, is the only member of the House who is not from the APC
Political analysts in the state believe his resignation is part of ongoing peace efforts which are aimed at resolving the political tensions in the state, with the APC having the majority of members in the Assembly after the Court of Appeal has sacked all lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Inside sources have also revealed that the election of Hon. Naanlong took place after a crucial closed-door meeting held earlier in the day involving Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, Dewan, and other key political figures in the state following months of impasse which led to a fractious relationship between the lawmakers and the government.
With the APC now having absolute control of the House of Assembly, there is a power shift which many believe will align the state with the center amid pressure for the governor to defect to the ruling party.
