A former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Justice, Dr. Ali Ahmad, was on Monday elected and sworn in as the Speaker of the 8th Kwara State House of Assembly.

Ahmad was nominated by a member representing Shawo/Igboidun Constituency, Mr. Hassan Oyeleke, as a sole nominee.

He was consequently unanimously elected by the other 23 legislators of the House which comprises 24 members, including the Speaker.

Also elected as the Deputy Speaker is Mr. Matthew Okelari.

Ahmad, who represented Ilorin East and South Federal Constituency, after his swearing in by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Olatunde Oyeniyi, said the task ahead of the 8th Assembly was daunting.

He stated that the economic outlook of Nigeria was frightening, adding that youth unemployment has risen to an unprecedented level.

He charged his colleagues to be committed so that they can be creatively finding short-term panacea and long-term solutions to the socio-economic challenges of the state.

He pledged that the executive arm of the government and the assembly would work harmoniously in ensuring protection of life and property of the residents of the state as well as ensuring the advancement of the people's welfare and economic well-being.

He also said it was cheering that all the state legislators were from the All Progressives Congress.

He also said that he was hopeful that a former governor of the state, Dr. Bukola Saraki, will emerge the next Senate President.

"While this is good, it presents its own challenge of complacency, apathetic toleration and laid-back attitude. We must avoid negative drawback of consensus. Our own version of consensus must mean that we are united in ensuring transparency and that there is no dissent in achieving the goal of accountability and good governance.

"We must make this place a true House of people of all shades and orientations. We must ensure robust public hearings on all issues where stakeholders will have meaningful input on how government should function.

"Our duty is to provide governance the way our people want, not the way we want. And there is no better avenue to gauge that wish than this House," Ahmad said.

Meanwhile, the member representing Esan Central Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Victor Edoror, has emerged as the new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.

Edoror was the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the 24-member House.

His emergency came after a motion for his nomination was moved during the inauguration of the 6th Assembly on Monday by the member representing Owan East Constituency, Folly Ogedengbe, and supported by the lawmaker representing Ikpoba Okha Constituency, Henry Okhuarobo.

He was declared the Speaker by the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Bosede Ogbebor, at about 12.44pm.

The lawmakers also elected the member representing Ovia North East II, Bright Osayande, as the new Deputy Speaker of the House.

Osayande, who was the former Deputy Minority Whip in the preceding assembly, was elected after a voice vote presided over by the new Speaker went in his favour.