Kogi assembly deputy speaker resigns as PDP losses another member

The deputy speaker of the Kogi state house of assembly, Rt Hon Aliyu Akuh, on Tuesday resigned as the number two man in the house following the defection of seven members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

This is just as another member of the PDP in the house, Musa Jimoh, representing Yagba East state constituency dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), joining six others that defected last week.

The development has however led to a change in the leadership of the house, leaving only the speaker, Rt Hon Umar Imam, the only one retaining his seat.

The speaker at the resumed sitting of the house read the resignation letter of Akuh and that of Jimoh on the floor of the house.

Akuh said he quit as the deputy speaker because of the recent development in the house after due consultation with his constituency.

The letter read, “In view of the recent happenings in the assembly and after exhaustive discussions with my family, my party PDP, the critical stakeholders from my constituency Omala Local Government Area, I have decided to throw in the towel, as the Deputy Speaker of the sixth Assembly”.

The house has however chosen Hon Hazzan Abdullahi, as the new deputy speaker, Matthew Kolawole retained his post as the majority leader, while Godwin Osuyi from Ogori/Magongo constituency emerged the minority leader.

The post of minority leader however became contentious as the house did not support Hon Friday Sani, who was endorsed by the PDP.

The party had in a letter addressed to the speaker gave the names of people endorsed for the posts given to it following the defection of the seven members.

But the house resolved to back Osuyi instead Sani, a development that made Sani storm out of the sitting.