Elvert Set To Be Crowned Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly
By Dominic OKOH
Barng any last minute change, Hon. Elvert Ayambem, repsenting Ikom II state constituency, would be crowned the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly on Tuesday, June 13.
Hon Hilary Bisong, Boki II, and Elvert Ayambem have been in trenches over who leads the 10th Assembly.
Investigations by The Beagle News revealed that the lot fell on Ayambem who is said to have been unanimously endorsed by the party hierarchy.
The party heirachy was said to have earlier today taken a position on the Speakerahip of the Cross River State 10th Assembly, which would be inaugurated tomorrow, with most of them kicking against Bisong.
Checks also revealed that all the five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Assembly members- elect are behind Elvert with majority of APC lawmakers already supporting Ayambem.
It was gathered that a good number of APC stalwarts and party leaders are not disposed to Rt. Hon. Hilary Bisong's candidacy, arguing that Boki, where he hails from are overloaded with appointments.
In the recent appointment made so far by Governor Bassey Otu, the chief of staff to the Governor, Otu Abang, is from Boki, and Boki has also taken the House of Representatives ticket in the person of Hon. Victor Abang.
Checks further showed that the Sylvester Agabi, Francis Asuquo, Davis Etta, Hilary Bisong and Linus Bassey would serve as Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip respectively.
PDP leadership was said to have agreed to support whoever APC has brought forward.
But sources close to PDP leadership revealed that the party is yet to conlcude on who becomes the Minority, Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.
But it is speculated that Mrs Rita Ayim may emerge as the Minority Leader based on her wealth of expereince.
Speaking on what he has for Cross Riverians, Hon. Elvert Ayambem, said: "If I finally emerge as the speaker, I would be speaker for all Cross Riverians. The House would cooperate with the government of the day.
"I and the leadrership of the Assembly would stabilise the House and ensure the opposition members are carried along because they were also elected like me. I am only the first among equal. But in all, the state shall expect a robust legislature where there would be a mutual respect and relationahip between the executive and lawmakers.
