By Emma Ogbuehi
Lawmakers of the Imo State House of Assembly on Monday morning impeached Speaker Paul Emeziem.
They replaced him with Kennedy Ibe.
The exercise was carried out amidst tight security with 19 of the 27 lawmakers said to have signed the impeachment papers.
It was learnt that the Deputy Speaker, Amara Iwuanyanwu, who was impeached last week, stormed the Chambers with six lawmakers and some security personnel to execute the impeachment plot against the Speaker.
Imo State Assembly has been rocked by crisis since Senator Hope Uzodimma became governor in January 2020 after the Supreme Court declared him winner of the 1999 poll in a ruling that remains controversial.
Read Also: Soludo stretches lead with 17 LGAs as Obi, Ekwunife, Ngige, deputy governor lose LGAs
Amara Iwuanyanwu was removed on November 2 through a resolution signed by 18 out of the 27 lawmakers of the Assembly, which was presented before the plenary.
Member for Orsu State Constituency, Hon. Ekene Nnodim, submitted the resolution.
Read Also: Ifeanyi Ubah stops Soludo’s unbeaten run, wins own LG
Receiving the resolution, the now impeached Speaker, Paul Emezim, said, “Since this resolution was signed by 18 members, out of the 27, the resolution stands.”
In July, Emezim pronounced an indefinite suspension of six lawmakers, accusing them of engaging in ‘unparliamentary conduct’.
The affected lawmakers are, Kennedy Ibe (Obowo), Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru), Anyadike Nwosu (Ezinihitte Mbaise), Onyemaechi Njoku (Ihitte Uboma), Philip Ejiogu, (Owerri North) and Dominic Ezerioha (Oru West)
The suspension had resulted in pandemonium at the plenary as gunshots rent the air before the Speaker was shielded out of the Imo Assembly complex.
Incidentally, the Assembly announced the recall of the suspended members the day the Deputy Speaker was impeached.
Emezim said the legislators had repented, hence the decision to lift the suspension.