Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The battle over which party to elect the speaker of the 10th session of the Enugu State House of Assembly is raging among the members-elect of the Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
For the first time since the inception of the present democracy in Nigeria 24 years ago the Enugu State House of Assembly will witness opposition members as against a one party assembly PDP system.
It would be recalled that during the March 18, 2023 Governorship election, the Labour Party secured 14 seats while the ruling PDP had 10 seats in the 24-seat assembly.
Also, pending the outcome of the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu, the PDP will form the State Executive, as INEC had declared, Dr Peter Mbah of the party winner of the election.
The LP and its candidate in the election, Chijioke Edeoga, are already at the tribunal to challenge the declaration of Mba as winner of the election.
Investigation shows that the present PDP-led house has made a standing rule which says that only ranking members can be elected as speaker and other key principal officers of the house.
However, speaking on the development, a member-elect on the platform of LP, Mr Harrison Ogara (Igboeze South state Constituency), said that the house rule has to be set aside after the inauguration.
“The rule was made by the PDP, when they had not thought of any other party coming in but now that we are the majority, we have to follow the general rule.
“We are the majority; so, we should produce the speaker and other principal officers of the house,” he said.
However, the Immediate past speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr Eugene Odo, said that the speakership and the deputy speaker positions could go to either of the parties, LP or PDP.
He argued that the two positions have nothing to do with party but whether the nominee enjoys the popularity of the members of the house.
“It has nothing to do with party. A member who enjoys the popularity and support of the house can be elected as speaker or deputy speaker.
“Take the case of Sen. Ike Ekweremadu in the 8th Assembly, he was from PDP and emerged deputy speaker in an APC majority in the Senate,” he said.
Odo further said that the majority leader position will be reserved for LP that have the majority.
A Legal Practitioner, Mr Gideon Agbo, said the state house of assembly rules are in sync with the rules made by the National Assembly in terms of leadership positions
“This stipulates that the party that is the majority produces the speaker and other principal officers.
“So, the case of Enugu cannot be different; the right thing should be done for peace, equity and Justice to reign,” he said.
Agbo, who was the senatorial candidate of SDP for Enugu North in the 2023 National Assembly election, said the rules made by the PDP-led house cannot supersede the national constitution.
Also speaking, a former PDP woman leader in Eha-Ndiagu ward, Nsukka Local Government Area, Amaka Ugwueze, said the situation might create chaos in the assembly if not well managed before the inauguration. They should begin discussions now before it gets out of hand.
“The PDP should accept the reality that a new party is in town and go into negotiations.
“We are all brothers and sisters, the earlier it is resolved the better for us all,” she said.
