Abia State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji has been impeached.
He was impeached on Tuesday at about 9am. About 18 members of the Assembly signed for the impeachment with the exception of two persons.
In a sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu, (PDP/Ohafia South), Hon. Kennedy Njoku(Osisioma Ngwa North), moved a motion for the impeachment of the speaker which was seconded by Hon. Chijioke Chukwu.
Speaker Orji was accused of insensitivity to the welfare of the members of the House. 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 a video which has gone viral, 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). ABN TV further gathered that members who didn’t sign the impeachment motion include; the majority leader, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu, (PDP/Obingwa East), Hon. Ginger Onwusibe(LP/Isiala Ngwa North), Hon. Jerry Uzosike,(PDP/Umuahia South) ,Hon. Kelechi Onuzuruike,(Umuahia North) and Hon.Abraham Oba(PDP/Aba Central).
Details are still sketchy as at the moment of this report but may however not be unconnected with the alleged unwillingness of the Speaker to commence impeachment proceedings against the State Governor, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.
Sponsored Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Ifeanyi Uchendu representing Ohafia South confirmed the impeachment but did not disclose other information.
The lawmakers are accusing the Speaker of gross misconduct and high handedness.
But a source close to the State Government described the impeachment as “Legislative Nollywood” which cannot stand.
According to the source, the House of Assembly complex had been under lock and key, so 18 lawmakers taking such action outside the Assembly complex is the height of impunity.
The Clerk of the House was not there to swear in the new speaker. In a video trending on social media, some members of the House had sat and impeached the Speaker and elected Hon. Chukwudi Apugo, (Umuahia East constituency), as the new speaker.
Rt. Hon. Orji, son of the former Governor Theodore A. Orji had lost his bid to represent Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
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