THE SUPREME LAWSA CONGRESS HOLDS INAUGURAL SITTING

• Congress members take oath of office
• ...elect principal officers
• Nna Victor emerges as Speaker

     Political duties in the Faculty of Law Students Association (LAWSA) UNIBEN seem to have kicked into full gear as the Supreme LAWSA Congress on Friday 27th of November, 2015 held its inaugural sitting. In the inaugural session presided over by the President of LAWSA, Garrick Nosa John, the Congress members were sworn into congress officially by the President. The Parliamentarians also elected Principal Officers of Congress into the positions of Chief Whip, Clerk, Deputy Speaker and Speaker.

     Having being given the go-ahead of the Faculty via the Student Adviser, Dr N. Ojukwu-Ogba, to proceed with Executive duties despite not being sworn in (ceremoniously), President Garrick issued a public notification invitation to the elected members of Congress. The statement issued on the 24th day of November, 2015 and signed by the President and Secretary General of LAWSA Okeleke Ugochukwu Victor, informed the Congress honourables of the inaugural sitting to hold on the 27th of November. According the statement, the Agenda of the sitting was to consist of Election of Principal officers and the Ratification of Presidential appointments, in order to "hasten work of all arms of government as time is far spent".

     The session scheduled for 4:00pm however didn't start till 4:15 when Congress members and Observers entered into the house. The Eleco chairman proceeded to state the sitting arrangements for Congress members, LAWSA Executives and for observers. At 4:20 the President of LAWSA, Garrick Nosa entered the house and delivered his opening address, after which oath of office forms were shared to the 36 Congress members present (out of 40) and they were sworn into office by the President.

     The Eleco took centre stage as next on the Agenda was the nomination (and election if need be) of Whips of each constituency and Election of Principal Officers of Parliament. The Eleco Chairman explained that the modus operandi of voting was going to be via secret ballot, in other to avoid "vendetta and hate" after the elections.  According to the LAWSA Constitution, the Speaker of the house must come from the 500 level constituency, the Chief Whip also from the 500 level, the Deputy speaker from the 400 level and the Clerk from 200 level constituency. The whips from each constituency were nominated and unopposed. 200 level - Honourable Kenneth, 300 level - Honourable Wahi Friday, and from 400 level constituency - Eke Martins.

     For the position of Chief Whip, who must come from the 500 level constituency Honourable Freeman Ameh and Honourable Philip Okwichime were nominated. Freeman Ameh won by a landslide with 29 votes to 7 votes scored by Philip. For the offices of Clerk and Deputy Speaker which constitutionally is to be occupied by a member of the 200 and 400 level constituencies respectively, there were sole nominations and no opposition. Honourable Efosa Okpamen emerged as Clerk, and Honourable Franklin Ikechukwu emerged as the speaker.
   
The sitting was not without some drama as in addition to the two rumoured contenders for the position of Speaker, Honourable Nna Victor and Honourable Nwachukwu Patrick, Honourable Etiosa Ejomon was also nominated. The drama took another twist when during his turn to give his manifesto he declined nomination and stepped down for the other two candidates. In what was indeed a close tie between Nna Victor and Nwachukwu Patrick, it was Nna Victor who emerged "Victorious" as Speaker with 20 votes, while Honourable Patrick scored 16 votes.

     The President then addressed and swore into office the principal officers. There was the 1st marching in of the Speaker, in which everyone stood at the cry of "Mr Speaker!", along with principal officers. The new Speaker in giving his welcome address thanked the House for the confidence reposed in him and promised that it would never be abused. Noting however that time was far spent and it was getting late, the Speaker suggested an adjournment of sitting till further notice, in which the Office of the Speaker would notify them. The Law makers nodded in approval and the motion was moved and seconded. The first sitting of Parliament for the session ended at about 6:13pm when Mr Speaker stepped out in company of his executives.

200level Constituency Congress Members

LAWSA CONGRESS MEMBERS 2015/2016

200 Level Constituency

- Joy Joseph
- Kenneth Nwino
- Tony Geku
- Collins Momoh
- Adewale Mosuro
- Uwaifokun Osagie
- Ifedun Grace
- Ogbomo Osamuede Moses
- Oboh Lawrence Christopher
- Ojeaburu Orumen Ifidon

300level Congress Members

300 Level Constituency

- Dekina Joseph Lebari
- David Victor Akpeji
- Godswill Ikpuri
- Henry Uzezi Amata
- Abolagba Joshua
- Efosa Okpamen
- Promise Wayi Friday
- Caleb Eghosa Ibizugbe
- Irene Ralphael Efe

400 Level Constituency

400level Congress Members

- Precious Edafe Onodiama
- Franklin Ikechukwu
- Martins Eziukwu Eke
- Yor Yor Borviga
- Chisom Kewvis
- Courage Osabuohien
- Enoma "Gafar" Precious
- Regina Nwolokoh Awele
- Daniel Eromosele Eiwanlan
- Peter Abada

500 Level Constituency

500level Congress Members

- Nna Victor
- Akpor Andrew
- Ojomo Etiosa Emmanuel
- Ameh Freeman
- Atsegbua Divine
- Okwechime Philip
- Joseph Okon
- Patrick Nwachukwu