The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has elected the member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Mr. Onofiok Luke, as its new Speaker.
At the plenary, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Effiong Bassey, all the members adopted Luke as the new speaker.
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, had last week nullified the election of the former speaker, Mr. Aniekan Uko, from Ibesikpo/Asutan State Constituency.
The motion for the election of the new speaker was moved by the Deputy Whip and member representing Onna State Constituency, Mr. Nse Essien, and was seconded by Mr. Mark Esset.
Luke was sworn-in by the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Mandu Umoren.
Bassey, who presided over the election of the new speaker, however, received the news of the nullification of his own election after the exercise on Monday.
Others, whose election into the House were nullified on Monday, were member representing Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency, Mr. Idongesit Ntekpere; Deputy Leader of the House, Mr. Aniefiok Dennis, from Etinan State Constituency.
Aniekan Bassey from Uruan State Constituency replaces Dennis as the House Leader.
Luke, however, said it was unfortunate that many of those they started the Sixth Assembly with had been sacked by the Appeal Court’s ruling.
He promised to broker peace among different ethnic groups in the state, adding that his tenure as speaker would uplift the plight of women in the state.