A member of the Plateau State Assembly, Daniel Nanlong, says the house is unaware of the court’s judgement reinstating its impeached speaker, Abok Ayuba, on Monday.

Mr Nanlong, the House Committee on Information chairman, told a news conference that while the house has confidence in the judiciary and the nation’s democracy, there could not be two captains on a ship.

According to him, there is no vacuum in the headship of the assembly as Mr Yakubu Sanda remains the speaker of the House of Assembly.

“To the best of my knowledge, the house has not been served any court judgement,” he said. “Even if there is any judgement to that effect, the House has the right to appeal the judgement and also get a stay of execution.’’

The Plateau High Court sitting, presided over by Justice Nefisa Musa, reinstated Mr Ayuba on Monday.

However, Mr Nanlong noted that he had heard rumours that the former speaker obtained a judgement from a court of law.

Some house members expressed joy that the court reinstated Mr Ayuba as the speaker of the House of Assembly.

Gwottson Fom (PDP-Jos South) said he was delighted that the reinstated speaker and his supporters went to court to challenge the impeachment even in the face of all forms of intimidation.

“Our tour allowances were stopped, but we didn’t budge, and we have been vindicated,’’ he said.

Timothy Dantong (PDP-Riyom) described the reinstatement of Mr Ayuba as the speaker as freedom for democracy in Nigeria and Plateau.

Mr Dantong said the judgement showed the house that it must respect the laws it made.

The house impeached Ayuba on October 28, 2021, but he challenged the exercise in court, describing it as a contravention of the rules of the assembly.

(NAN)