Bauchi Assembly swears four new members

February 14, 2024

There are strong indications that a new leadership may emerge for the Bauchi State House of Assembly following the swearing-in of four reelected members.

Recall that the election of the four PDP members was declared inconclusive by the Court of Appeal, which ordered a rerun in a number of polling units in the four state constituencies.

At the rerun, Jamilu Umaru Dahiru (Bauchi Central, PDP and former Deputy Speaker), Dr. Nasiru Ahmad Ala
(Madara/Cinade, PDP), Abubakar Y. Suleiman (Ningi Central, PDP, former Speaker), and Yusuf Sa’idu (Zungur Galambi/Miri, PDP) were declared winners by INEC.

They were consequently sworn in on Wednesday as members of the Bauchi State House Assembly in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

The swearing ceremony, which was held during the plenary, was conducted by the Clerk of the Assembly, Barr Umar Yusuf Gital, who led the new lawmakers to take their oaths of office and allegiance on the orders of the Speaker, Babayo Muhammad Akuyam.

Bauchi State House Assembly now has a full membership of 31 legislators, comprising the political APC with 8 members, the NNPP with 1 member, and the PDP, which is in government in the state, with 22.

The attention of the public has now been focused on the Assembly to see how the politics are going to play out, as there are unconfirmed reports that Abubakar Y. Suleiman may eventually return to the position of Speaker.

An insider told our Assistant Northern Bureau Chief that there was a gentlemanly agreement that Abubakar Y. Suleiman would return as Speaker if he eventually won the rerun election.

The insider added that now that he has won the rerun election, efforts have been intensified to ensure a smooth transition, as the incumbent Speaker may resign at any moment to pave the way for his return.

According to him, the gentleman agreement was reached in order to get the Assembly out of a quagmire. It found itself when the elections of both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were declared inconclusive and a rerun was ordered by the Court of Appeal.

As of the time of filling out this report, there was no clear indication of any form of change of baton at the Assembly, but consultations are said to be ongoing while waiting for the inputs of the State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir.