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