ASABA/Nigeria: The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, has been elected Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria.
Rt. Hon. Guwor emerged chairman during an extraordinary session of the Conference held in Abuja on Monday, where he was returned unopposed by his colleagues in recognition of his leadership capacity and record of service within the body.
His election followed his tenure as Treasurer of the Conference, a position he has held since 2023, during which he was credited with diligence and effective coordination among members.
Also elected into the new leadership of the Conference were the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawal, as Deputy Chairman, and the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarikin Dani, who succeeded Guwor as Treasurer. The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly was elected Financial Secretary, among other officers.
In his acceptance speech, Rt. Hon. Guwor expressed profound gratitude to his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him, describing his election as both an honour and a call to greater responsibility.
“I stand before you today deeply honoured, profoundly humbled, and sincerely grateful for the confidence you have reposed in me by electing me as Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria,” he said. “This moment is not merely personal; it symbolises our collective resolve to strengthen democracy, deepen legislative excellence and reposition our State Legislatures as vital pillars in Nigeria’s constitutional governance.”
He pledged to discharge his duties with integrity, courage and fairness, noting that the Conference represents the conscience and collaborative strength of sub-national legislatures at a time when Nigerians demand responsive governance, economic inclusion and institutional credibility.
“As Speakers, we preside over chambers where laws are debated, budgets scrutinised and the hopes of millions articulated. We are custodians of democracy at the sub-national level, and our unity strengthens the nation,” Guwor stated.
The new chairman outlined key priorities for his tenure, including legislative independence anchored on accountability, capacity building for lawmakers and staff, harmonisation of progressive legislative practices, stronger intergovernmental collaboration and enhanced citizen engagement to restore public confidence in democratic institutions.
He assured that under his leadership, the Conference would be a platform for action rather than mere dialogue, and a forum for reform, innovation, professionalism and national cohesion.
Rt. Hon. Guwor also expressed appreciation to Delta State for providing the platform for his emergence, thanking the Governor of the state, Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, for his support, as well as members of the Delta State House of Assembly and his constituents.
He further commended the outgoing leadership of the Conference, pledging to build on the foundation already laid to strengthen the institution.
Commenting on the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Delta State Speaker, Mr. Nkem Nwaeke, described Guwor’s election as Chairman of the Conference of Speakers as a significant milestone in his leadership journey and a major boost to Delta State’s legislative profile at the national level.
