Following an alleged security threat cited by the Governor of Nasarawa, Governor Abdullahi Sule, to postpone the inauguration of the 7th House Assembly, angry youths have staged a protest in the state.
Politics Nigeria reports that as at the early hours of today, Tuesday, June 6, the assembly premises was manned by security operatives to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
The road linking to Shendam was also barricaded halfway by the security agents to allow travellers plying the route to carry out their various business activities.
It was further learnt that as early as 3:30, the immediate past Speaker, Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, alongside some of the members-elect suspected to be his loyalists, drove into the Assembly ground to reelect him but hurriedly left for fear of being attacked.
The protesting youths said they wanted a lawmaker, Daniel Ogazi, as Speaker, with one of them saying: “enough is enough for imposition of unpopular candidate against the people’s choice.”
Recall that the immediate past Speaker, Balarabe-Abdullahi, Ogazi representing Kokona East and Danladi Jatau, have indicated interest in running for the speakership in the 7th Assembly.
The major contestants belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and will have to fight for votes of members-elect from their party and those in the opposition.
APC has 11 seats against PDP’s eight, while other minority parties, such as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), have three and two, respectively.
On his part, the acting Clerk of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Musa, said that the inauguration of the 7th Assembly had been postponed indefinitely over a security threat.
He said in a statement: “I wish to inform all members-elect and the general public that based on security advice, the scheduled inauguration of the first session of the 7th Assembly as directed by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State Engr. Abdullahi Sule is hereby postponed.
“In view of the above, a rescheduled time will be communicated to all Hon. Members-elect and the general public. We regret any inconveniences this postponement may have caused.”
