The ranking clause which some incumbent lawmakers have been flaunting as selling point to justify re-election despite their non performance and abysmal failure has finally been given a decent burial as Barr Emeka Nduka who is a first timer recently emerged as Speaker of the Imo State of the Imo State House of Assembly following the resignation of Hon Kennedy Ibeh as Speaker of the House.
The recent development negates in its entirely the position of some desperate lawmakers that one must be a ranking member of the House to occupy a principal position or attract requisite dividends of democracy to his constituents.
It was gathered that, contrary to claims by some people who have nothing apart from ranking to show case as their achievements and the advantage they have over other contestants, the current development is synonymous with what happened in 2011 when late Senator Ben Uwajumogu and Pharmacist Donatus Ozoemnam who were first timers emerged Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly’’respectively as a result of amendment on the ranking clause.
However, at the advent of the Emeka Ihedioha administration, the ranking clause was also made flexible which made it possible for Hon Okey Nwakanma to emerge Deputy Speaker of the House.
Continuing, the source has been expunged in the subsequent amendment of House Rules, hence the emergence of Hon Nduka as Speaker of the House in his first tenure.
“This has pulled the rug off the feet of some legislators who have nothing else to campaign with except the ranking mantra’’,the sourced said.
