…..as it suspends deputy speaker, eight others
The crisis rocking Abia State House of Assembly has taking a new twist as the speaker, Chinedum Orji dismissed the purported impeachment of her speaker, by some members of the House led by its former Deputy Speaker, Ifeanyi Uchendu.
This was made public during a preliminary session of the House presided by Orji, on Tuesday.
The Informant247 had reported the members of house impeached the speaker, Hon Chinedum Orji.
It was reported that About 18 of the 24-member on Tuesday, signed for the Speaker’s impeachment.
Four of the members including Ginger Onwusibe, Solomon Akpulonu, Munachim Alozie and Kelechi Onuzuruike refused to sign.
His removal followed a motion moved by Hon. Chukwudi Apugo (Umuahia East), and seconded by Hon. Okey Igwe (PDP, Umunneochi).
Meanwhile, a member of the House, Jerry Uzosike, during the preliminary, described the move as unconstitutional, disgraceful and against the rules of the legislature, while moving a motion that all the members involved in the alleged impeachment move should be suspended with immediate effect and a new Deputy Speaker elected.
The motion was seconded by the member representing Isiala Ngwa North state constituency, Ginger Onwusibe.
However, the Speaker in reaction put the motion to vote and all the nine members present voted in favour of it.
He said, “I have been a humble speaker. That I’m quiet does not mean that I don’t know what to say.
Orji however, announced the suspension of the nine members involved in the purported impeachment move for one month without benefits.
“I have taken a lot of insults and humiliation not from the governor of the state, but from those who think that they are assistant governors, but I have been quiet because my family member had been a governor and I respect the office of the governor”, he said.
The Speaker also set up a committee to investigate the member involved in the purported impeachment move, while also elected the member representing the Ohafia North state constituency, Egwuonwu Obasi, as the new Deputy Speaker.