The Abia State House of Assembly’s leadership issue assumed a new dimension on Wednesday as two factions of the House met in separate parts of Umuahia, the state’s capital.
On Tuesday, a few state assembly members allegedly impeached the Speaker, Chief Chinedum Orji, while seated in a secret location.
Chief Chukwudi Apugo, who represents the state seat of Umuahia East, was also chosen as the new Speaker by the group led by Chief Ifeanyi Uchendu, the Deputy Speaker.
But in a swift response, the troubled Speaker called a House plenary session at the Assembly complex and suspended nine House members who were visible in a widely circulated video of the alleged session where he was allegedly impeached.
Ifeanyi Uchendu, Kennedy Njoku, Chikwendu Kalu, Chukwudi Apugo, and Aron Uzodike were suspended as a result of a motion made by Chief Jerry Uzosike, the member representing Umuahia South State.
Chijioke Chukwu, A.C. Thomas Nkoro, Okey Igwe, and Obinna Ichita were additionally present.
Uchendu, the deputy speaker, was also removed from office and replaced by Chief Egwuonwu Obasi, a representative of the Ohafia North state constituency.
Orji had requested that the security organisations in charge of the Assembly complex bar the suspended members from entering the building.
But on Wednesday, the Apugo-led faction of the House allegedly suspended Solomon Akpulonu, the majority leader, and Orji.
Paul Taribo (Ukwa East), Mandela Obasi (Ohafia North), Ginger Onwusibe (Isiala Ngwa North), Abraham Oba (Aba Central), Emeka Okoroafor (Isuikwuato), and Jerry Uzosike were also placed on administrative leave by him.
As the former Speaker had been relieved of his duties earlier in the day, Apugo claimed it was improper for him to preside over the House of Assembly plenary.
He claims that after Orji was previously impeached by the majority of the House for severe misconduct and abuse of power in the wee hours of Tuesday, Orji lost his position as Speaker of the House.
He continued by saying that the alleged removal of Uchendu as deputy speaker and the alleged suspension of several House members are all false, illegitimate, and have no legal standing.
In a meeting of the faction, Aaron Uzodike, a representative of the Aba North State Constituency, was chosen as the new majority leader.
Apugo reiterated that all House standing committees should be dissolved. However, he reorganised the committees for appropriations, public accounts, local government, chieftaincy affairs, and four ad hoc committees to review the House’s activities.
Kennedy Njoku and Obinna Ichita will serve as the committee chairs for the appropriations and public accounts, respectively. While Chijioke Chukwu and Chikwendu Kalu, respectively, will preside over the Ad Hoc Committee on Review of House Activities and the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Apugo also threatened legal action on behalf of the House against the suspended members if they continued to hold unauthorised plenaries.
Additionally, he counselled the state’s security agencies to uphold the Nigerian Constitution firmly and refrain from showing favouritism to those who break the law.
Orji also presided over a House plenary meeting at the Assembly complex with supporters of his.
