First term lawmaker emerges Leader of AKHA
The Member Representing ONNA State Constituency, Hon. Sunday Johnny has emerged Leader of the 8th Assembly of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong during Tuesday’s plenary announced Hon. Johnny as Leader and Rt. Hon. Otobong Bob representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency as Deputy Leader.
Chief Effiong Johnson of Mbo State Constituency is to serve as Chief Whip while Hon. Sampson Idiong representing Oruk Anam will be Deputy Chief Whip.
The new leader of the House is a first term member. By House convention and legislative practices, leadership positions are reserved for ranking members.
TheMail Newspaper learnt that the House conventions were bypassed to make Johnny Leader in order to appease Mr Udom Emmanuel after the immediate past Governor saw his preferred candidate for speakership position, Prince Ukpong Akpabio fail to clinch the coveted seat.
Johnny represents Udom in the state legislature and was one of three “palace boys” of the immediate governor who was given PDP ticket for House of Assembly.