The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Plateau State has alleged a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led administration in the state to stall the swearing in of incoming members of the State House of Assembly.
Recall that the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Moses Sule and his deputy, Hon Gwott Fomson, at the plenary on Tuesday resigned their positions and Young Progressive Party (YPP) member, Hon. Gabriel Dewan, representing Pankshin North was immediately elected as Speaker and Timothy Dantong as deputy speaker respectively.
In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Mr Slyvanus Namang, the APC said the State government has perfected plans towards ensuring that the incoming Members of the House are not sworn in thus causing a constitutional crisis in the legislative arm of government.
According to the party, “in order to execute the ill-motivated script, as soon as the Speaker was sworn-in on Tuesday, he immediately declared a 2-month recess till January 21st, 2024.
“This onslaught and legislative impunity has put paid to the speculations about the grand design by Governor Mutfwang to stall the inauguration and swearing in of the new members returned by the Court of Appeal, which is to be effected next week.”
The party pointed out that going by the Appeal Court judgments, the APC would have an overwhelming majority of 22 Members out of 24 Members in the Plateau State House of Assembly while the YPP and Labour Party (LP) would have one member each.
“This invidious move is a clear invitation to crises as by next week, in line with the Appeal Court judgments, all the 16 PDP members would cease to be members of the Plateau State House of Assembly.
“This, therefore, implies that the 22 APC Members are expected to operate under a one man riot gang as “Speaker” for the two months because even when the House is on recess, legislative functions would take place under oversight functions.”
It therefore urged Governor Caleb Muftwang in line with the oath of office he took, to defend and protect the interest of the people of Plateau State and uphold its most cherished heritage of proud Home of Peace and Tourism instead of breaching the palpable peace and further plunging it into more avoidable crises.
. TheWitness
