Police Take Charge of Abia Assembly Over Plot to Impeach Speaker.
The Abia State House of Assembly complex in Umuahia has been taken over by a detachment of policemen following an alleged plot by some members of the House to impeach the Speaker, Engr. Chinedum Orji. Sources say that some members of the House had been meeting over the plot, but details of the impeachment saga are still unclear. The House had adjourned sitting to reconvene at a later date.
A video circulating on social media showed some members of the House sitting and impeaching the Speaker and electing Hon. Chukwudi Apugo as the new speaker. The motion for the impeachment of the speaker was moved by Hon. Kennedy Njoku, who accused the Speaker of insensitivity to the welfare of the members of the House.
Police Take Charge of Abia Assembly Over Plot to Impeach Speaker.
Njoku said; “I want to move a motion considering the present situation in the House of Assembly and the feelings of members towards the speaker of the 7th House, Engr. Chinedum Orji, of his insensitivity to the welfare of members and other sundry activities. It is clear to us that all these have led to gross misconduct on the office of the speaker. Hence, I move a motion for the removal of the speaker.”
In the video, Njoku also read a list of the members who signed for the impeachment of the Speaker. It includes Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu,(PDP/Ohafia North), former Speaker, Hon. Chikwendu Kalu, (PDP/Isiala Ngwa South), Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, (APC/Bende North), Hon. Okey Igwe, (PDP/Umunneochi),Hon. Chukwudi Apugo,(PDP/Umuahia East), Hon. Stanley Nwabuisi,(PDP/Ikwuano),Hon. Obinna Ichita, (APGA/Aba South), Hon. Thomas Nkoro, (PDP/Obingwa West) , Hon. Mike Ukoha, (APC/Arochukwu), Hon. Goddy Adiele,(PDP/Ukwa West), Hon. Paul Taribo, (PDP/Ukwa East) , Hon. Kennedy Njoku,(PDP/Osisioma Ngwa North), Hon. Nnamdi Allen, (PDP/Osisioma Ngwa South),Hon. Munachim Alozie (LP/Ugwunagbo), Hon. Emeka Okoroafor, (APC/Isuikwuato) and Hon. Uzodike Aaron,(PDP/Aba North).
The members who did not sign the impeachment motion include the majority leader and three others.
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Efforts to get the reaction of the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Jude Ndukwe, were unsuccessful as he neither responded to calls and text messages placed on his number. It remains to be seen how the situation will play out, but the presence of policemen at the House of Assembly complex suggests that tensions are high.
