The drama in Plateau State House of Assembly over the fate of the speaker, Mr. John Dabwan, took a new twist on Tuesday when the 24-member house failed to impeach him.
Speculations were high that there was going to be a change of guard at the assembly as the lawmakers resumed from their break on Tuesday.
The members were said to be dissatisfied with the speaker’s leadership style. It was also speculated that Dabwan might have fallen out of favour with Governor Jonah Jang and the Peoples Democratic Party leaders, who made it possible for him to become the speaker in the first place.
Dabwan took over from Mr. Istifanus Mwansat, who was removed in what was perceived to be a palace coup after he also fell out of favour with the governor and some of his cronies.
Anxiety was high as journalists and many interest groups thronged the assembly complex to witness what was supposed to be a dramatic sitting. Dabwan was supposed to be replaced by a member representing Bokkos constituency, Titus Alams.
However, as the members arrived one after the other, they retired to an inner chamber, leaving the floor of the legislative chamber desolate.
They claimed to be holding a meeting which lasted till 3.30pm with no signs of them coming for sitting in the chamber.
Our correspondent gathered that some members of the House refused to sign the impeachment notice and the house was divided over the impeachment plan.
Alams, who was favoured by the government could not also get the required support from members who did not buy the idea of Alams replacing Dabwan. Some of the members preferred the member representing Kanke constituency, Mr. Timothy Golu, who, until his election as a member of the House, was a journalist with Leadership newspapers.
The development stalled the sitting of the house as the two supporting camps could not reach a compromise as to who was to become the new speaker.
Punch
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