By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Plateau State, yesterday tackled the Speaker of the State Assembly for refusal to swear-in six of its members who were given victory by the court of appeal as duly elected.
The APC “strong men” alleged that the Speaker of the House, Hon. Gabriel Dewan could be acting in connivance with other APC Assembly members who constitute a majority in the House.
They lashed out at the Assembly Deputy Speaker who is also an APC member for not fighting for the swearing-in of its remaining six members.
Vocal in their demand to integrate the six members, former governor of the State, Simon Lalong also fingered the Deputy Speaker for working against the interest of the Party.
Lalong who is also a Senator representing Plateau South in the National Assembly called on Party members to unite and fight the injustice against the Party.
“I expressed sadness at the refusal of the speaker of the Plateau State House of assembly not to swear in six APC members despite a court order”, he said.
On the replacement of another Minister from the State, Lalong appealed to President Bola Tinubu to appoint a Plateau citizen to replace him as former Minister.
Recall that Lalong ran for the senatorial seat in the 2023 elections, but lost and was appointed as Minister of labour and employment by Tinubu.
The court of appeal however declared Lalong as the duly elected Senator prompting him to resign his appointment as Minister and move the Senate.
According to him: “It is not fair that Plateau has been without a Minister for the past seven months,” our correspondent quoted Lalong as saying.
He continued: “Whatever is the stumbling block, we want it removed so that we will have a Minister because we are entitled to it constitutionally.
“I know the president is a democrat, and he listens to his people.
“I am sure, by the time he returns from his trip abroad, he will do something so that we will have a Minister”, he said.
Also, the Party expressed confidence in winning the forthcoming local government elections in the State.
