Abel Peter Diah,RT. HON, DCN (born 01 June 1971) is a Nigerian politician who is serving as the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly.

Abel Diah is a member of the People's Democratic Party who has served in the Taraba State House of Assembly representing Mbamnga constituency since 2003.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Early life and education

Abel had his primary and secondary Education in Mbamnga ward of Sardauna local Government in Taraba State.

He thereafter proceeded to Federal University of Technology, Yola, where he studied Business Administration. While at university, he developed an interest in politics and was actively involved in the school politics despite being one of the youngest students in his department..^[7][8]

Political career

Abel Diah started his political journey in 1996, when he was elected Councillor representing Warwar Ward, Sardauna Local Government Council under the Zero Party System. He was saddled with the responsibility of taking charge of Health and Natural Resources. Between 1996 and 1997, he emerged the Caretaker Chairman of Sardauna Local Government Council.

In 1998, he, alongside other like-minds, joined the People’s Democratic Party in a group under the leadership of the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the People's Democratic Movement (PDM), the platform under which he contested and won the election into the Taraba State House of Assembly, representing Mbamnga constituency in 2003.

This purposeful representation has earned Abel the honour of being the longest serving Member in the Taraba State House of Assembly. He has been voted six consecutive times by his constituents to represent them.

He has served in various standing and ad-hoc committees of the House of Assembly in different capacities. He won the confidence of his colleagues when they elected him as the 7th Deputy Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly in 2011.

He emerged as the 8th Speaker Taraba State House of Assembly. Following the inauguration of the Eighth Assembly in June 2015 and was re-elected speaker in April 2016 after the declaration for a rerun election in his constituency election by the Court of Appeal Siting in Yola.

Abel is currently serving as the Secretary of PDP Speakers Forum and at the same time, elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Conference of Nigerians Speakers Forum.^[9][10]

Personal life

Abel is married to Lois Peter Diah. With whom they have four children. He enjoys sports and plays badminton during his free times.

As a Deacon in the Vineyard of God, he loves reading the Bible and other inspirational literatures.

References