When on October 25, 2016, Yusuf Gagdi, the then Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), he thought a move like that would further consolidate his position, especially in the APC majority legislature. Gagdi represents Kantana Constituency.

However, little did he know that four months later, he will be forced to vacate the seat by a large number of his new party “friends,” no thanks to the remaining eight members of his former party who pundits say never forgave him for defecting.

On April 3, Gagdi was stabbed in the back. Eighteen members signed a “vote of no confidence” against him. The House majority leader and member representing Shendam constituency, Henry Yenkwap read the communication at plenary. The matter was put to a voice vote which sealed Gagdi’s removal. He was immediately replaced by Saleh Shehu Yipmong who represents Kanam constituency in a nomination that was seconded by Gagdi himself.

The 18-member “gang” that ousted Gagdi, our correspondent gathered, included 10 members of the APC and the remaining eight members of the PDP, who took the opportunity to get their pound of flesh. The PDP had at the beginning of the 8th Assembly controlled the House with a simple majority that constituted 13 of Plateau’s 24 assembly members against the APC’s 11.

Gagdi, then of the PDP, was unanimously elected as deputy Speaker in a horse-trading that saw the PDP lose the position of the Speaker to the APC despite having the majority at the time. Peter Azi of the APC was elected Speaker after a former Speaker and then PDP’s Istifanus Mwansat stepped down just before election leaving the coast clear for Azi.

Since then, the House had witnessed smooth running of its proceedings except for disagreements that followed Governor Simon Lalong’s removal of the elected local government chairmen and their subsequent replacement with management committee chairmen. There had also been some drama in the House following the extension of the chairmen’s tenure in which Gagdi had spearheaded a move that ensured some members walked out of plenary.

But with the tide now turned in favour of APC numerically and the defection of Gagdi as well as the deputy minority whip, Nanlong Daniel, to the APC late last year, the ousted deputy Speaker had failed to watch his back and became too comfortable.

His recent removal was an obvious sign that he had lost favour within both the APC and PDP. Since his election as deputy Speaker in June 2015, Gagdi had had four attributes working in his favour- being young, intelligent, outspoken and financially buoyant. These were his greatest qualities despite being a new member in the House. But not everyone was comfortable with his bluntness as there were those who accused him of outclassing the Speaker.

His removal, though smooth, had left many tongues wagging especially when many didn’t see it coming. Till date, the House is yet to give cogent reasons for its actions other than insisting that certain members had lost confidence in the former deputy Speaker. Yenkwap has also continued to say Gagdi’s removal was based on many issues but he was yet to name any. Nevertheless, Gagdi had insisted he saw his impeachment coming though many disagree.

But despite denials from the House, it does seem someone was pulling the strings from behind. Speculations arose shortly after Gagdi’s removal of a N43 million local government committee fund found in the account of one of the principal officers to be shared to members. Many say the money was not unconnected to the extension of the tenures of the local government management committee chairmen which the House had continued to extend without qualms. Gagdi had in the past opposed the extension on the grounds that there had been various petitions against the chairmen.

Similarly, political observers are of the opinion that Governor Lalong was instrumental to the impeachment which explains the governor’s silence since the removal. There have been speculations that the former deputy Speaker was overambitious and was eyeing the House of Representative seat for Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam constituency which is presently occupied by Timothy Golu of the PDP. Lalong on the other hand, has become intimate with all the state’s representatives at the National Assembly and many say he is trying to lure them into the APC on the promise that they will retain their seats.

Should Gagdi continue to shove his head in Golu’s direction, pundits say his ambition would likely clash with Lalong’s political equation. Perhaps that was a major contributing factor to Gagdi’s ouster.

Culled from Daily Trust

count | 257

Unanswered questions over Plateau Deputy Speaker’s removal