Members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly have elected a new speaker and deputy days after the Court of Appeal nullified the elections of the former speaker, Hon Abubakar Sulaiman and his deputy, Jamilu Umaru Dahiru.
A member representing Hardawa constituency, Babayo Muhammad, emerged as the new speaker, while the member representing Dass constituency, Ahmad Abdulahi, became the deputy speaker.
LEADERSHIP reports that the Court of Appeal sacked the former speaker and ordered INEC to hold rerun elections in 10 polling units in Ningi central constituency. Similarly, the court also ousted Barade and ordered a rerun of elections in more than four polling units in Bauchi Central constituency accordingly.
Earlier, the Bauchi Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal had in separate judgements affirmed the elections of both the former speaker and his deputy before the Court of Appeal upturned the election following appeals filled by their opponents.
The judgements of the Court of Appeal created a leadership vacuum in the House, prompting the lawmakers to elect the new leaders.
The spokesperson of the House, Musa Nakwada, Bogoro constituency, who confirmed the election said the decision of members to elect new leaders for the Assembly became necessary to fill voids created by the judgements of the Court of Appeal.
He said as lawmakers, they will continue to work within the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Nakwada said the new leaders will pilot the affairs of the House to allow the lawmakers to continue to perform their functions.