At Benue Eighth Assembly Begins, Elects Ikyangae Speaker

The All Progressives Congress (APC) member representing Ushongo state constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Terkimbir Ikyange, has emerged Speaker of the Eighth Session of the House.
He was chosen above his closest rival, Dominic Ucha, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with 17 votes against 13, even though the PDP has the majority in the Assembly, with 15 members, 14 for the APC and one for the Labour Party (LP).
Ikyange emerged in an election held at the inaugural session of the House in Makurdi, the state capital, on Friday.
The member representing Okpokwu state constituency, James Okefe of the PDP, defeated Joe Ojobo of Ogbabibo state constituency to emerge Deputy Speaker.
In his acceptance speech, the Speaker promised to lead a vibrant House that would be independent of the executive arm.
Earlier on Friday, Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, who inaugurated the Assembly, promised to collaborate with the lawmakers to raise the state in all indices of development.