Elvert Ayambem (APC-Ikom 2) has emerged as the Cross River House of Assembly speaker.

Mr Ayambem was elected unopposed at the inauguration of the House by Governor Bassey Out in Calabar.

Sylvester Agabi APC-Obudu) was also elected unopposed as the deputy speaker by the lawmakers.

After that, the assembly clerk, Jerry Akabisong, administered the oath of office to the new speaker and his deputy.

In his inaugural speech, Mr Ayambem appealed to all the parliament members to begin functioning as lawmakers representing their people rather than toe political lines.

He said the lawmakers must hit the ground running to build a stronger and greater Cross River.

“Whatever vehicles facilitated our coming this far must lose its relevance to the by-partisan conversation of a greater Cross River. The joy of this day is replete with burdensome expectations from men and women who braved the elements in long queues as votes were cast,” the new speaker stated.

Mr Ayambem added, “The least we can do to reward these patriots is to get our institutions to work at an optimal level to assuage the pull of downward socioeconomic realities on the people that have shown a determination in championing a change that will be for generations.”

Mr Otu, represented by Deputy Governor Peter Odey, appealed to the assembly to work assiduously in passing relevant bills that the ninth assembly could not pass.

(NAN)