>
There was a dramatic turn of events in the leadership tussle rocking the Bauchi State House of Assembly on Friday night when the leader of one of the factions in the crisis, Kawuwa Shehu Damina led 16 other members-elect to take oath of office and allegiance at a special session held around 8:00 pm.
The two factions had held parallel inaugurations leading to the emergence of two factional Speakers. Abubakar Y Suleiman was elected by 13 members at a sitting presided over by the clerk on the floor of the Assembly complex on June 20, the factional Speaker, Kawuwa Shehu Damina, was elected outside the Assembly complex by 18 Members under the symbol of a Mace.
The Assembly is made up of 31 members – 22 from the All Progressives Congress (APC), eight from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). The state governor, Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, is of the PDP.
But with the latest development, the crisis may have been amicably resolved as the Kawuwa Damina-led camp has finally bowed to pressure and were inaugurated.
Damina, who was believed to be loyal to the former Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, led the remaining 16 members to take their oath of office and oath of allegiance. They were inaugurated at the special session presided over by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Danlami Ahmed Kawule.
Governor Abdulkadir who was also at the Assembly complex as an observer when the other Members were inaugurated, told newsmen that it was victory for democracy and the people of the state.