In a significant move for Nigeria’s sub-national legislative landscape, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (CSSLN).
Guwor was elected unopposed during an extraordinary session of the Conference held in Abuja on Monday night, February 9, 2026. He succeeds Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin of Oyo State, whose tenure was marked by a strong push for digital transformation and inter-parliamentary diplomacy.
A New Chapter for State Assemblies
Guwor’s emergence is seen as a natural progression in his leadership journey, having previously served as the National Treasurer of the Conference since 2023. His election brings a fresh perspective from the South-South region, aimed at consolidating the gains made by his predecessor.
In his acceptance speech, Speaker Guwor outlined a clear roadmap for his leadership:
- Legislative Independence: Strengthening the financial and operational autonomy of State Houses of Assembly.
- Capacity Building: Enhancing the technical skills of lawmakers and legislative staff across the 36 states.
- Collaborative Governance: Fostering a more robust synergy between the legislative and executive arms of government to ensure rapid national development.
“This moment is symbolic of our collective resolve to strengthen democracy and reposition our State Legislatures as vibrant pillars in the architecture of Nigeria’s constitutional governance.” — Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor
The New Executive Committee
The election also saw the formation of a diverse leadership team to support Guwor’s vision:
- Deputy Chairman: Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawal (Speaker, Borno State)
- Treasurer: Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarikin Dani (Speaker, Niger State)
- Financial Secretary: Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji (Speaker, Ondo State)
