Legislative and business activities were brought to a halt at the Niger State House of Assembly on Tuesday following the impeachment of the Speaker, Mr Usman Adamu.
Indications of the Speaker’s removal emerged when roads leading to the complex were flooded with armed security officials and other security agents.
The Assembly members, however, defied the presence of the armed security men and forced their way into the assembly complex after damaging the chain used in locking the gate.
After about an hour the mace arrived and the House settled down for plenary, with 19 out of the 25 members of the assembly present.
A member of the House representing Agaie Constituency, Mr Abdullahi Akwanu, who is the House Chairman, Business and Rules, told the House that after the Assembly’s executive meeting on Monday, it was agreed that the House should sit for business on Tuesday but surprisingly no leader of the House, including the Speaker was around.
He, therefore, drew the attention of the House to ‘Order 8’ of the House Standing Rules which provides that in the absence of the Speaker from the House without any reason, a Speaker Pro Tempore be appointed to enable the proceeding of the House.
Consequently, a motion was moved by the Member representing Bosso Constituency, Mr Usman Dada, for the appointment of a Speaker Pro Tempore and this was seconded by another member.
The Member representing Bida 1 Constituency, Mr Isah Kawu, was immediately nominated for the position of the Speaker Pro Tempore by Honourable Abdullahi Akwanu and this was seconded by Hon. Jacob Maggi Gana, representing Lavun Constituency.
Thereafter, Gana told the House that the refusal of the leadership of the House to show up after it was agreed during the executive meeting on Monday.
Gana added that the absence of the leadership of the House had caused them some level of embarrassment and therefor moved for the removal of the leadership.
His motion was seconded by another lawmaker, representing Paikoro Constituency, Mr Yusuf Kure.
After sacking the leadership of the House, the Speaker Pro Tempore then called for nomination for the new leadership of the house.
Honourable Gana immediately nominated the speaker temporal, Honourable Isah Kawu, as the new Speaker of the House, Honourable Bello Ahmed (Agwara) Deputy speaker, Honourable Yusuf Kure (Paikoro) Majority leader, while Honourable Sa’adatu Kolo (Mashehu) Chief Whip.
The new Speaker was immediately sworn in by the Clerk of the House, Mallam Mohammed Kagara.
In his acceptance speech, the new Speaker, who is occupying the position for the second time within two years, having been appointed as a Speaker after an impeachment of Honourable Mohammed Gamunu in 2012, thanked the members for the confidence reposed in him, stressing that though he is aware of time limit because of the transition.
“This change will bring a positive development to the House and by extension, to the people of the state,” he said.
He then directed the Clerk to immediately write a letter to notify the Governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu of the change in leadership in the House.