Rt. Hon. Gabriel Dewan, the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, has given an explanation for why he only swore in nine of the sixteen members of the House who belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following the dismissal of sixteen Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from their seats by the Court of Appeal, sixteen members of the APC were reinstated to the House.
The APC is furious because the Speaker swore in nine members last week but left out seven.
Rt. Hon. Dewan gave an explanation for his actions on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday. He stated that the seven members still needed to finish the required steps in order to take the oath of office.
He said: “Sometime in November, there was a pronouncement in the court that 16 of my members have been removed by the Court of Appeal. A pronouncement in the court is different from the procedures in the House.
“I wasn’t in the court; I heard it on air that 16 members have been removed. There is no communication to me from the INEC or the CTC of the judgment for me to be sure that truly those members have been removed or anything.
“And I was waiting for that proper thing to be done, what did I get? Sometime in January, a lawyer, one S.O Obende or so, wrote a letter to my office attached with 16 certificates of return of members and I replied back that Obende is not a member of my Assembly. If the court has declared members elect the members know the normal procedure to follow.
“The right thing to be done was for INEC to write to me as the Speaker directing me that based on this judgement, attaching the communication with the CTC of the judgment that based on this judgement, we have been directed to withdraw the certificate of return from this honourable to these honourables. Therefore, we are directing you as the electoral umpire to recognise this person as your member that was never done.”
The Speaker added that, “Sometimes two weeks ago, I was told by those responsible for documentation in the House of Assembly that 9 members have submitted their certificates of return and have met all the requirements and I said okay.
“So, I don’t know if the CTC copies of the other members are not ready. So, what was presented to me was what I recognised and I swore them in.”
Dewan insisted that he could not formally inaugurate the remaining members as members of the House of Assembly unless they presented the certificates of return and the CTC copies of the rulings.
Dewan urged those who were accusing him of being in contempt of court after some APC members said he was not following the ruling.
Furthermore, he insisted that he was merely making sure that due process was followed and refuted any political motivation for his actions.
