A new Speaker has emerged for Taraba State House of Assembly amid crisis in the legislative arm of government. Following the voluntary resignation of Joseph Kunini, yesterday, the House elected Kizito Bonzena (Zing constituency) as the new Speaker.

Tendering his letter of resignation, yesterday, on the floor of the House, Kunini said he threw in the towel on personal grounds. Kunini, who thanked his colleagues for cordial working relationship, urged them to extend the same to the new Speaker.

His sudden resignation, which took some of the members and Tarabans by surprise, has been dogged by mixed feelings. While some stakeholders believe that his cordial relationship with the governor had been soiled, others believe that he willingly decided to bow out of office.

The Guardian findings, however, gathered that the number one citizen of the state was not pleased with the former speaker’s stand on the seven years unpaid outfit allowance of the state parliamentary workers.

During his presentation of the 2023 budget to the governor for assent, Kunini reportedly reminded the governor of the need to attend to the plights of the workers.

The incident, which did not go down well with the governor, The Guardian learnt, would have led to friction in the House and plot for Kunini’s impeachment; hence, his decision to throw in the towel.

Fielding questions from newsmen, yesterday, the new Speaker denied knowledge of any form of friction among the members of the House.He also confirmed that the former Speaker’s resignation was on personal grounds, debunking allegations that an impeachment plot compelled his predecessor to step down.