Assembly clears Achuba for Deputy Governor

The Kogi House of Assembly on Tuesday approved the nomination of Mr Simon Achuba as Deputy Governor of the state.

The Speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Momoh Lawal, said the approval followed the clearance of Achuba by the Committee of the Whole during an emergency sitting of the house.

Lawal said the approval was in response to a letter from Gov. Yahaya Bello requesting the House to approve the nomination in accordance with the provisions of Section 191 (3) (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended).

The speaker held that Achuba's approval would end the vacuum created by the absence of a deputy governor for the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Achuba, a two-time member of the state assembly, was only asked to `take a bow and go' when he appeared for the screening.

Born on July 13, 1964, the deputy governor designate joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in May 2015.

He had served as member of the state assembly from 1999 to 2007 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While in the assembly, Achuba served as Deputy Speaker between 2003 and 2007, and was later appointed by former governor Idris Wada as Chairman of the state Environmental Protection Board.

Meanwhile, the House has also approved the 21 names sent to it by the governor for appointment as commissioners and special advisers.