The Plateau State House of Assembly on Monday says it is impossible to have two speakers in one Assembly, stressing that the house recognises only Yakubu Sanda as the speaker.
The house was reacting to the judgment by Justice M. Musa of High Court 6 Jos who on Monday reinstated the former speaker, describing the impeachment as null and void.
In a press briefing led by the chairman House committee on information, Naanlong Daniel, said to the best of their knowledge, the story of the impeachment was a rumour, as the house hasn’t been served with any development to that effect.
He said: “The house of assembly is a respectable institution of law. It is the product of the law and we are confident in the judiciary and our democracy. I want to tell you categorically that there is a rumour actually going round that the former speaker has obtained judgment from a court of law.
“As a house, I called the speaker and the Clark for clarity of the issue, and to the best of my knowledge, the house hasn’t been served with any court judgment. Even if there is any judgment to that effect, the house still has the right to appeal and also ask for the stay of execution. But until then, we can’t work with rumour. We cannot have two captains in a ship. That is the position of the house, “he added.
Daily Trust reports that the reinstated speaker, Abok yesterday appeared at the chamber of the house with seven other members loyal to him.
The plenary ended in the absence of the speaker, Yakubu Sanda and other members loyal to him.
After the eight members had had a session amidst security, a “stay of execution” was brought to house.
Our correspondent who was at the house reports that the sitting presided by Abok ended peacefully with security personnel seen within and outside the house, adding that police personnel were stationed outside the house to nip in the bud any breakdown of law.
Daily Trust reports that Abok was removed in 2021 when he was at a loggerhead with Governor Simon Lalong.
From Ado Abubakar Musa, & Aminu Yusuf, Jos
