Kogi Assembly Crisis: Umar Iman Resumes Sitting as Speaker

Umar Imam-led faction of Kogi State House Assembly yesterday, defied the reconciliatory efforts by the House of Representatives and sat for the first time at the State House of Assembly complex, Lokoja, where it elected Deputy Speaker, Minority Whip and also passed the state budget for a second reading.

This came even as the MomohJimoh Lawal-led faction was still hibernating in Abuja.



The National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Monday faulted the impeachment of Lawal, saying it was illegal and could not stand, saying it was absurd for five out of 25 assembly members to claim to have impeached a Speaker in an informal sitting in a private residence without even forming a quorum as required by the rules of the House.

However, the initial five-members Imam led faction rose to 10 following the inauguration of three new members who won their elections at the February 22 re-run poll, and two other members who defected from the MomohJimoh camp to the Imam’s camp.

The legislators aside inaugurating the three new members also elected two other principal officials; with Kekere Abdulkareem (Okehi 1) elected as Deputy Speaker and Idoko Moses as Minority Whip. The nominations for the two positions were done by Friday Makama, (Igalamela Odolu) and Lawi Ahmed (Okene 1) respectively. Also, the faction conducted a second reading of the budget presented last year December by former Governor Idris Wada and referred it to the committee level.

Speaking at the commencement of the sitting, Imam Umar, claimed that irrespective of what the other faction might have been feeding the public, peace had been restored to the House following intervention of critical stakeholders both within and outside the state.

According to him: “I thank God, Almighty for His intervention and restoration of peace to the Assembly. Our profound appreciation goes to Governor Yahaya Bello and other prominent citizens of the state for using their time and good offices to intercede in the crises rocking the House.” While commending his colleagues, Imam said he would not betray the trust on him to lead them and called on the other faction to sheath its sword and worked for the common interest of the state.