Impeached Vice Speaker in 7th Assembly becomes House Speaker in 8th Assembly

The member representing Mbamnga State Constituency in the Taraba 8th Assembly, Abel Diah, on Wednesday, June 3 emerged as Speaker.

He was chosen along with Alhaji Mohammed Gwampo from Yorro State Constituency as Deputy Speaker.

Representing Lau State Constituency, Joseph Kunini, retained his former position of Majority Leader of the house.

Diah was nominated by the member representing Lau constituency, Kunini, and was seconded by the member representing Takum I, Hosea Ibi.

The nomination was unanimously endorsed by the entire house.

Diah, who was returning to the house for the fourth time, assured members that the house under his watch would run a transparent, accountable and a resulted-orientated administration.

"We shall operate an open door policy that will welcome constructive criticisms and ensure that decisions are reached with the full consent of members.

"Our leadership will ensure that the house operates as a family in spite of the different political parties which were just a platform for our recruitment into the house," he said in his acceptance speech.

The new speaker also pledged that the house will support the executive to ensure that peace returns to the state.

Pulse recalls that the leadership of the House under Haruna Gbana as Speaker and Diah as his deputy was impeached in 2013 over alleged financial misappropriation.