From Aviashima Toom, Makurdi
Although, Hon. Titus Uba, the incumbent Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, still believes he holds the ace to return as leader of the state legislature, there are, however, planned moves to wrestle power from him and stop him from been the head of the 9th Assembly.
Unlike in the 2015 general elections, where the then opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won 14 seats in the state’s hallowed chamber, the then ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, won 15, while Labour Party, LP, had one.
The PDP as the ruling party now, was quite decisive this time around as it clinched 24 out of the 30 seats available in the Assembly, leaving APC with four and ADC, one.
With this year’s elections in favour of the PDP, especially at the legislative level, the jostle as to who gets what within the party is getting heightened and several permutations are already in the air on who leads the second arms of government.
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While it may be a given that Uba, as the incumbent speaker, may have it rosy ahead of the convocation of the 9th Assembly in June, some forces and interests, mainly from outside the four corners of the legislative arm want a change of baton in the leadership of the house.
Flaunting his short reign as speaker after he took over from the impeached Terkimbi Ikyange, for all that cares to see, Uba has not hidden his interest to continue as the leader of the Assembly and he has the support of the majority of his colleagues, who were returned, apart from the newly elected members, who are already seen hovering around the speaker for juicy committee membership.
Uba, a second term member, was first elected into the Benue State House of Assembly in 2015. He was elected on the platform of APC.
Prior to his emergence as the Speaker in 2018, Uba was majority whip and became speaker during the faceoff between Governor Samuel Ortom, Senator George Akume and APC, which led to the governor’s controversial defection and the impeachment of Ikyange.
Representing Tyev state constituency, Uba is quite entrenched in both party and elective politics. Within the last four years, and since becoming the speaker, he has been able to solidify his loyal base both within and outside the Assembly.
But from every indication, the race may be somehow tougher than imagined for Uba, who has carved a niche for himself in the business of legislation as some interests are considering a change in leadership ahead of the 9th Assembly.
Speaking to The Nigerian Xpress, a source within the ruling party, who did not want his name mentioned, said the events of the past one week has somewhat cast doubts on the absoluteness of Uba’s return as Speaker.
The source said: “It was supposed to be automatic given Uba’s influence and the fact that he is a true party man, who, inspite of all intimidation from the APC, as speaker, stood firm with Governor Ortom on the grazing law. But some other considerations are being floated and they are getting to the listening ears of the powers that be in the state.
“However, Uba still holds the ace because he is committed and the party doesn’t want to entertain any crisis, looking at the just concluded battle it went into with the APC.”
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When asked about the considerations being brought to the table and who are those championing it, the party leader said: “The issue about permutation and build up against 2023 governorship in the state is what the arguments of those seeking a change in the guard in the leadership of the Assembly revolve around.
“They claim that the speaker, if allowed to continue, would garner enough strength and support to challenge them. So therefore, he should be removed and weaken his weigh of contesting the 2023 governorship election.
“I think it’s on this premise that they are said to be rooting for another person to be elected as the Speaker of the House.”
While faulting the basis of the conjecture, the source said that the party is not given to sentiments on issues of governance, but on who will deliver the common good of governance for the people of the state.
A source, close to Governor Ortom told The Nigerian Xpress that there is substance in the alleged move to edge out Uba as speaker and replace him with Hon. Ucha from Ikyaan state constituency, who is also from Vandeikya Local Government Area with the Speaker.
He said: “The former governor and now senator-elect, Gabriel Suswam, and Commissioner of Education, Prof. Dennis Ityayav, who is one of the kitchen and super commissioner in Ortom’s government and is also eying the 2023 governorship seat, are actually the ones orchestrating the move, although Hon. Ucha has not come out to openly tell anyone that he wants Uba’s job.
“Everyone is trying to be cautious owing to the influence of those involved in the brewing power in the state game.”
In 2015, Uba, even though marked his first appearance in the House, took a shot at the speakership, but was kicked out due to the choice of Ikyange as speaker by Senator George Akume, who was the APC’s Alpha and Omega.
