The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Babayo Akuyam; and his deputy, Ahmed Abdullahi, have tendered their resignations from their respective positions.
Mr Akuyam, representing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Hardawa State Constituency, and Abdullahi, representing the PDP in the Dass State Constituency, announced during the plenary session on Wednesday.
Their decision aims to facilitate the reinstatement of the former Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman, and his deputy, Jamilu Dahiru, to their previous roles.
According to the report from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Court of Appeal in Abuja had nullified the elections of Messrs Sulaiman and Dahiru in November 2023. The court also mandated a re-run of the general elections in the constituencies on March 11, 2023.
In a subsequent development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Suleiman and Dahiru as the winners of the re-run elections held on February 3 and February 4, 2024, respectively.
Explaining the decision to step down, outgoing Speaker Akuyam stated that it was part of the agreement among the lawmakers to facilitate the return of the duo to their positions. He expressed gratitude to the legislators and the House’s staff for their support and cooperation during their tenure.
Additionally, Mr Akuyam commended the outgoing Speaker and his deputy for honouring their commitment. He also assured the assembly of his dedication to enacting effective legislation for the improvement of the constituents’ livelihoods.
