In a swift but calculated leadership transition, Hon. Nanloong Daniel of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged as the new Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, following the unexpected resignation of Gabriel Dewan of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
The development unfolded during an emergency sitting held at the temporary Assembly Complex in the Old Government House, Jos — a session many say was triggered by rising political tension and behind-the-scenes power plays in the state.
Nanloong Daniel, who previously served as Majority Leader in the 9th Assembly, was unanimously elected by his colleagues — a sign of consensus in a legislature that has witnessed its fair share of turbulence in recent months.
The transition didn’t happen in isolation. Sources confirmed that it followed a high-level closed-door meeting between Governor Caleb Mutfwang, outgoing Speaker Gabriel Dewan, and other key lawmakers. That meeting, insiders say, was aimed at dousing the growing political unrest and reuniting a fractured House.
Deputy Speaker Gwotta Ajang presided over the emergency sitting and steered the official handover process. Though no formal reason was publicly stated for Dewan’s resignation, observers believe it was a strategic move to calm the stormy waters rocking the Assembly and to restore a sense of order.
Dewan, notably the only YPP member in the Assembly, had led at a time when his party held a minority position. His exit from the Speaker’s seat is seen as part of a wider realignment, especially after a Court of Appeal ruling earlier this year sacked 16 PDP lawmakers, citing irregularities in the party’s structure before the 2023 elections.
With Nanloong Daniel now at the helm, expectations are high. Many within the state are hoping his experience and political maturity will help steady the legislative ship and foster better cooperation with the executive arm in navigating Plateau’s complex political landscape.
For now, the Assembly seems to have found a breathing space — but the bigger question remains: will this new leadership truly deliver the stability the state so desperately needs?
