8th inauguration: Why Ugwu emerged Speaker in LP dominated Enugu Assembly

BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU

Fresh facts have emerged on why Hon. Uche Ugwu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged as Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly dominated by the Labour Party (LP).

Ugwu was elected by the 24 members of the House on Tuesday during a first session of the House at the assembly chamber in Enugu. PDP has 10 legislators while LP is having 14 lawmakers.

The first session of the 8th assembly was presided over by the Clerk of the House, Dr Emma Udaya.

The lifespan of the immediate-past House elapsed on June 10, this year.

Ugwu who represents Udi North Constituency in the assembly and served as the deputy speaker in the previous House was nominated for the position by Iloabuchi Aniagu.

Aniagu is representing Nkanu West State Constituency and seconded by Chukwudi Nwankwo, the member for Awgu South Constituency.

There was no other nomination during the session, prompting the Clerk to declare Mr Ugwu the new Speaker to replace the former Speaker of the House, Uchenna Ubosi.

The lawmaker representing Igbo-Etiti East Constituency, Ezenta Ezeani, was also elected deputy speaker of the 8th assembly.

Jane Eneh of Awgu North Constituency nominated Mr Ezeani of Igbo-Etiti West Constituency.

His nomination was seconded by Okey Mba, the lawmaker for Nkanu East Constituency

In the absence of further nomination, Mr Ezeani was declared the deputy Speaker of the 8th Assembly by the Clerk.

Similar to the new Speaker, Ezeani, the new deputy speaker is a member of the PDP.

Despite LP being in majority, the new Assembly relied on the standing order of the House to pick principal officers, a development many considered would help to build healthy relationship between the executive and the legislature in the state.

Editor

Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively. He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.