A second-term member of the Assembly, Ibeh is the third Speaker of the Imo Assembly to be impeached since Hope Uzodimma, who came fourth in the 2019 governorship election, was declared governor of Imo State on January 14, 2020.
By Emma Ogbuehi
There was confusion at the Imo State House of Assembly on Monday with the purported resignation of the Speaker, Kennedy Ibeh.
Though he was said to have resigned from his position, a source at the Imo Assembly told TheNiche that he was pushed out of the position on the instruction of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma.
Shortly after he was kicked out of office on Monday, a photo of the new Speaker, Emeka Nduka, representing Ehime Mbano state constituency, surfaced in Owerri.
The new Speaker was with the Deputy Speaker of the House, Chyna Iwuanyanwu, Majority Leader, Kanayo Onyemaechi, and the member representing Isu State Constituency, Ngozi Obiefule, in the picture.
As at the time of going to press, the reason for Mr. Ibeh’s removal was not yet known.
Ibeh, who represents Obowo state constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged Speaker of Imo Assembly on November 8, 2021.
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A second-term member of the House, Ibeh is the third Speaker of the Imo Assembly to be impeached since Hope Uzodimma, who came fourth in the 2019 governorship election, was declared governor of Imo State on January 14, 2020.
Ibeh became Speaker after the Assembly impeached his predecessor, Mr. Paul Emeziem (APC – Onuimo), during a special sitting.
It was said at the time that Emeziem’s removal followed a resolution signed by 19 of the 27 members of the Assembly.
Emeziem also became the Speaker of Imo Assembly after his predecessor, Chiji Collins, who not only ushered in the Uzodimma administration but defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, was impeached by forces loyal to the new governor.