PDP Lawmaker Recently Defected To APGA Emerge Anambra State New Speaker

The member representing Ogbaru II State House Constituency Hon Somto Udeze has emerged the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly ~

The 3rd term ranking lawmaker who won his reelection back to back on the platform of the Peoples Democratic party PDP recently returned to the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA to further his career as a legislator

Udeze at his acceptance speech shortly after being sworn in noted that the Assembly has to hit the ground running adding that the task before him and his colleagues are challenging hence all hands must be on deck and described the 8th Assembly as one that is high and above party loyalty and affiliations.

The state Assembly is made up of seventeen seats for APGA , 3 seats for PDP , 7 seats for Labor Party and three seats for the Young Progressives Party YPP.

“Contrary to the notion in some quarters that the Assembly is established to be on log ahead with the Executive arm of government this 8th Assembly would foster good relationship with the Executive and the Judiciary
based on mutual respect for each other and for the growth of Anambra state”

“Granted that the 8th Assembly has four political parties represented here but irrespective of party affiliation and loyalty we must see our task as the task put before us by the Anambra electorates and not party loyalty”

“I will neither fail nor disappoint you my colleagues and the people of Anambra state and there will be no fan fair or entertainment or merriment after this session in the House of Assembly because we shall hit the ground running” he said.

Speaking after the Speaker Gov Charles Soludo urges members to see their tasks as lawmakers as one that has the same goal with the state Executive in building a liveable and prosperous Homeland.

“This is a new partnership and new arrangement and one common goal for the 8th Assembly and we do not have 30 balls or 30 goal posts but one ball and one goal post “

“Yes we have four political parties in this 8th Assembly but we don’t have four goal posts or four balls we have applied for governor and Assembly membership and we have been employed by our people to serve “

“We do not have four political parties in this Assembly but only one party and that is Anambra people and that is Anambra Assembly”

“Whatever party emblem or color you are members of the State Assembly and that is your party emblem or color and we in the Executive arm of government are disposed to a harmonious relationship with the Assembly in moving our state forward” he said.

At the election in the hallowed chambers of the Assembly Hon Ikenna Ofoneme moved the motion for nomination of Somto Udeze as Speaker while Ikwenne Chimezie John Mark of Awka North Constituency seconded the motion.

Also two term member representing Awka South 2 Constituency Ozo Pius Nwokoye emerged as Deputy Speaker while Ikenna Ofoneme becomes Majority leader and Jude Ngobili Deputy Majority leader.

Meanwhile the post of Minority leader and Deputy Minority leader is still vacant as according to the Speaker Udeze the parties responsible to present the names have not concluded arrangements.

It is expected however that the Labour Party should produce the Minority leader since it has seven seats at the state Assembly while the PDP is touted to produce the Deputy Minority leader.