Physically Challenged Lawmaker Elected Speaker of Adamawa House of Assembly

Barthiya Wesley, the lawmaker representing Hong constituency has been elected Speaker of the 8th Adamawa State House of Assembly.

Barthiya emerged as speaker unopposed, making him the first physically challenged person to be elected leader of a legislative house in Nigeria. While he was not born with a disability, Barthiya survived a crash earlier in life that left him with one of his arms amputated.

While Barthiya who is a second term lawmaker elected under the Peoples Democratic Party will be taking over as Speaker of the 8th Assembly from Hon. Aminu Iya-Abass following his elevation as Senator representing Adamawa Central Zone in the National Assembly, Buba Mohammed Jijiwa of Jada Mbulo also emerged as Deputy Speaker unopposed.