Confusion in Taraba Assembly over speaker’s vacant seat

There is ongoing confusion in the Taraba state House of Assembly following the Appeal Court ruling of December 25, which finally nullified the election of Hon. Abel Peter Diah as member representing Mbamga state constituency and speaker of the state house of assembly.

The house has since then been operating without a speaker, with the deputy speaker presiding, an action which analysts said is illegal.

The Appeal Court sitting in Yola Adamawa state had on December 21 in an appeal filed by Hon. Abel Diah upheld the decision of the tribunal which nullified his election in eight polling units, but ordered run-off in five polling units out of the eight.

The final leg of the judgment which finally removed the speaker from office was on December 25, when the Appeal Court finally sat on the Appeal brought before it by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and still upheld the decision of the tribunal.

The ruling has since create a leadership vacuum in the house which has since December 25, been without a speaker and by implication without any principal officers of the house.

Briefing newsmen in Jalingo House committee chairman on information and public affairs, Hon. Salleh Sa’ad, declared the seat  of the speaker of the house vacant.

According to him the Speaker lost the last leg of his appeal which has stop him from being a member and by implication the speaker of the house.

Salleh urged the public not to overheat the system as the house leadership was still intact with the deputy speaker still in office with other principal officials and will reconvene when it is time.

He noted that the house was still on break and would do the right at the right time when the house resume.

It could be recalled that Mr. Emmanuel Bongo of the APC is challenging the declaration of Mr. Abel Peter Diah as member representing Mbamga state constituency on the grounds that the election was marred by irregularities and substantial non compliance with the electoral act.