The All Progressives Congress and its stakeholders in Plateau State are intensifying efforts to have the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Honourable Gabriel Dewan, impeached.
Dewan, a lone member of the Young Progress Party, has been under pressure to vacate his position and allow the APC to assume leadership of the House.
This move follows the ruling by the Appeal Court, which overturned the election of 22 elected members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, declaring the APC candidates as the legitimate winners. The court ruling was based on the premise that the PDP lacked the necessary structure to field candidates for the election. Dewan became Speaker after the PDP members’ seats were vacated by the court, and his position was later sustained after the APC members were inaugurated.
However, the APC leadership in the state has expressed dissatisfaction with Dewan’s position as Speaker, arguing that it is undemocratic for a party with a single member to preside over a House with a majority of 22 members. Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the APC Chairman in Plateau State, Honourable Rufus Bature, described the current arrangement as an “aberration” and called for a motion to change the leadership.
“In a democracy, the majority will always have their way, the minority their say,” Bature said. “But if by the numerical strength of the House, the APC has 22 members, YPP one, and the Labour Party one, and the YPP member is the one presiding over the affairs of the House, it is undemocratic. All they need to do is move for a motion to change the leadership.”
Bature emphasized that the APC was not advocating for disorder or violent removal but rather pushing for a legitimate and peaceful change in leadership. He also stated that discussions with APC members in the House had been ongoing, and the party was simply asking for the “right thing” to be done.
“The party is not trying to cause a problem in the House; we are just saying the right thing should be done. We have become a laughingstock based on this development. It is abnormal and absurd,” Bature added.
Bature also raised concerns about the distortion of the state’s zoning arrangement, as both the Governor and the Speaker currently hail from Plateau Central, something that he noted had never occurred before.
In response to the APC’s demand, Honourable Matthew Kwarpo, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, called for calm, acknowledging that the issue had sparked significant discussions. “It was a clarion call from the Plateau State APC chairman, Honourable Rufus Bature,” Kwarpo said. “He argued that the Speaker should come from the majority party in the House. Currently, the Speaker is from the YPP, a minority party.”
Kwarpo added that discussions were still ongoing at the party level, and that other parties, including the PDP and YPP, had pointed out that the current situation was a result of court judgments. He assured the public that the House would remain coordinated and patient as the process unfolds.
“At the right time, I know the APC will take charge of the leadership,” Kwarpo continued. “Yesterday, during his birthday, the Governor appealed for calm. There was a lot of social media chaos regarding the speaker’s future. The Governor’s appeal was simple: be patient and allow the process to unfold naturally.”
Kwarpo emphasized that the transition would be gradual, citing the Court of Appeal judgment that altered the House’s leadership structure. He noted that the Speaker himself had acknowledged that he would eventually step down for the majority party, but stressed that the change should not be rushed or done in a way that would destabilize the state.
“We want an amicable leadership transition so that members can focus on executing projects in their constituencies,” Kwarpo said. “The 23 members in the House are mature, reasonable people. They understand that change must happen—but it should happen at the right time and in the right way.”
Kwarpo also reassured the public that the change would not be forced and that the leadership transition would be conducted in consultation with key stakeholders, including the Governor. “Even though they may not directly influence our decisions, their input will help maintain peace and unity in the House.”
While the exact timing of the leadership change remains uncertain, Kwarpo concluded by stating that while it could happen at any time, it would be handled with care to avoid any chaos in the state.