Leader of the Nigerian delegation to the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Parliament, Senator Jibrin Barau has emerged as acting Speaker of the 6th Legislature of the region’s Parliament.
Before his emergence, Senator Barau, who is the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate was earlier nominated as the 1st Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament by Honourable, Awaji-Inombek Abiante and seconded by Senator Ireti Kingibe.
In accordance with the rotational system established by Decision A/DEC. 6/06/06 of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, the Speakership of the 6th Legislature of the regional bloc has been zoned to the Republic of Togo.
However, during the inauguration of the 6th Legislature of the Parliament, the delegation of the Republic of Togo was not present hence, a Speaker Pro-tempore, Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr, Parliamentarian from Liberian was elected.
Senator, Snowe presided over the inaugural session of the Parliament, including the election of the four deputy speakers.
The Speaker Pro-tempore said in order not to create a vacuum, Senator Barau, as the 1st Deputy Speaker will act as the Speaker of the Parliament pending when the Togolese delegation is inaugurated.
Honourable Adjaratou Traore Coulibaly ofCote D’ Ivoire emerged 2nd Deputy Speaker, Ghanaian Parliamentarian, Honourable Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin was elected 3rd Deputy Speaker as Honourable Billay Tunkara of Gambia was made the 4th Deputy Speaker.
