Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State are intensifying efforts to remove Honourable Gabriel Dewan, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, who is the only member of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the House.
The party is urging its 22 members in the Assembly to take over the leadership.
The situation arose following the 2023 Appeal Court ruling that nullified the elections of 22 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers, declaring APC candidates as the rightful winners.
This decision left Dewan, who had assumed the speakership after the PDP seats were vacated, in charge even after the APC members were inaugurated.
The development has sparked controversy, with APC leaders arguing that it is undemocratic for a party with only one representative to preside over a House where APC holds an overwhelming majority.
Speaking on the matter, APC state chairman Honourable Rufus Bature described the situation as an anomaly, stating, “In a democracy, the majority will always have their way, the minority their say. But if by the numerical strength of the House, the APC has 22 members, YPP one, and the Labour Party one, and the YPP member is the one presiding over the affairs of the House, it is undemocratic. All they need to do is move for a motion to change the leadership.
“It is either the Speaker is asked to resign or be voted out at the plenary. The party is not instigating disorder or a violent removal, but that is the practice everywhere; Plateau State cannot be an exception.”
Bature further noted that the zoning arrangement in the state had been disrupted, as both the Speaker and the Governor now hail from the same senatorial district—something he said had not happened before.
Reacting to the calls for leadership change, the chairman of the House Committee on Information, Honourable Matthew Kwarpo, acknowledged the APC’s position but urged patience.
“It was a clarion call from the Plateau State APC chairman, Honourable Rufus Bature. He argued that the Speaker should come from the majority party in the House. Currently, the Speaker is from the YPP, a minority party,” Kwarpo stated.
He explained that discussions were ongoing at the party level, with input from the PDP and YPP, emphasizing that the current leadership structure was a result of court judgments.
“As a House, we will remain coordinated and patient. At the right time, I know the APC will take charge of the leadership. Yesterday, during his birthday, the governor appealed for calm. There was a lot of social media chaos regarding the speaker’s future. The Governor’s appeal was simple: be patient and allow the process to unfold naturally.”
Kwarpo stressed the need for a smooth transition to avoid political instability, citing crises in other states as a cautionary example.
“The Court of Appeal judgment changed the House’s leadership structure. It will take a gradual process to realign things properly. Even the Speaker himself has acknowledged that he will one day give way to the majority party. I strongly believe that the change should not be rushed or done in a way that would destabilise the state. If you look at what is happening in Rivers State and other states, we do not want that kind of crisis.”
He added that while removing the Speaker could be done quickly, lawmakers were committed to a peaceful transition.
“We want an amicable leadership transition so that members can focus on executing projects in their constituencies. The 23 members in the House are mature, reasonable people. They understand that change must happen—but it should happen at the right time and in the right way.”
Kwarpo added that although the exact timing of the leadership change was uncertain, it would be done in consultation with key stakeholders, including the Governor, to ensure stability in the state.
