Kogi Assembly Majority Leader resigns over terrorism allegations

The Majority Leader of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Murktar Bajeh (APC-Okehi), has resigned his position in protest of the terrorism allegations levelled against him and eight other colleagues.

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on March 23, branded nine of the 25 Assembly members as terrorists for their alleged roles during the March 18 House of Assembly elections in the state.

Bello had requested the legislature in a letter to the Speaker, Matthew Kolawale, to suspend the nine lawmakers, including the Majority Leader, and investigate their roles during the Assembly election.

But Bajeh, in a letter to the House, informed them of his resolve to step down from the Majority Leader’s position following his disposition with the actions of the governor and the House.

READ ALSO: Kogi Assembly suspend 9 lawmakers for alleged terrorism, electoral violence

“I hereby wish to inform this House that I am no more interested in being your leader, but have resigned forthwith,” the letter read.

The Speaker, who read Bajeh’s letter at plenary on Wednesday, asked for comments on the matter.

It was at that point that a motion was moved by the Deputy Speaker, Alfa Momoh-Rabiu, for the nomination of a substitute in the person of the Chief Whip, Mr Ahmed Dahiru, to replace Bajeh as the Majority Leader.

The Speaker later put a question to members on the nomination of the Chief Whip to fill in the vacant position, while the members unanimously accepted Dahiru as their new Majority Leader owing to his capacity and ability to do the job.

“The House, having accepted the choice of Hon. Ahmed Dahiru, member representing Okene II, to fill in the gap left by Hon. Muktar Bajeh, we hereby declare him (Dahiru) our new Majority Leader from today,” the Speaker said.

The Star