7th NSHA: Respect Party Supremacy Or Quit, APC Tells Ogazi, Others
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has reiterated its support to the 11-man faction of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) led by former Speaker, Ibrahim Abdullahi Balarabe of Ugya/Umaisha Constituency.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Chief Douglas Otaru, on Sunday, the party’s State Working Committee (SWC) said only the Balarabe-led leadership of the Assembly who were reportedly inaugurated at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lafia on Tuesday June 6th is recognised as there cannot be two Speakers at a time.
Otaru warned warring lawmakers and Members led by high ranking Lawmaker, Mr. Ogah Ogazi (APC, Kokona West) to respect the supremacy of the party or quit.
He stated that any Speaker other than Balarabe is an imposter and enemy of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the platform they were elected to the Assembly to represent their respective Constituencies.
The APC Spokesperson alleged that Ogazi and his cohorts in “tacit connivance with some opposition elements are trying to undermine the authority of the state. This is rebellious, totally unacceptable and stands condemned in all ramifications.
“While we maintained the golden silence over time for the sake of peace, we would like to caution the renegade of rebellious members who are bent on dragging the party to disrepute to beware of the days of reckoning which lies ahead of them if they don’t turn a new leaf and tow the consensus decision of the party.
“The party frowned with dismay at such unruly behaviour of some of its members who in flagrant disobedience to the party’s constituted authority attempting to create infractions within its ranks for their selfish gains. We therefore, wish to warn in strong terms that the party will no longer tolerate such acts of ignominy and may be forced to invoke its constitutional sanctions on any erring member no matter how highly placed.
“We are also not unaware of the activities of some agent provocateurs from within and outside the party who are hell bent on exploring the situation to further their inordinate ambitions by causing strife and disharmony within the state. The party is taking stocks of your activities and will exact its supremacy on such members at the appropriate time. Anyone regardless of socio political linings attempting to throw the state into anarchy and chaos will attract the wrath of the law,” the statement reads further.
The statement added that Governor Sule as the leader of the party in the State had given his backing to the minority faction and therefore urged the Ogazi-led warring members to respect him.
Ogazi had reportedly emerged as Speaker during the inaugural sitting of the 7th Assembly at the Assembly’s parliamentary chamber in Lafia following the proclamation issued by Governor Sule. 13 out of the 24 Members-Elect attended the session and were subsequently inaugurated.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) had retained its majority status in the 24-man state House of Assembly with 11 seats, opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 08 and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) 03 while the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has two (02).
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