Abians were shaken out of their daily routine when news filtered out that the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Orji had been removed as Speaker. Really? How? Some immediately dismissed it as fake news. Several reasons made it an unbelievable news item.

First, the Abia Speaker is not your run-of-the-mill politician who enjoys his position at the pleasure of some godfather who may wish to dispense of him at will. Indeed, the man fondly hailed as ‘Ikuku Oma Abia’ is himself a godfather of sorts.

Second, he is not a newbie in the politics of the House, having served as a Majority Leader for four years.

Thirdly, his position as the numero uno of the House is only an official working title and does not interfere with the camaraderie he enjoys with his colleagues.

Fourth, Rt Hon Orji and Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu enjoy the best of a cozy relationship and never fails to tell whoever cares to know. Who therefore is afraid of Chinedum Orji?

Finally, a viral video on social media showed it was an inside job by some disgruntled members of the House led by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu

From the video, one could see it was a shoddy job hastily put together for reasons yet to be confirmed.

The session was held in what appears to be a dining room or a small hall with about 11 House members sitting around a large table

Mover of the motion for the impeachment of the Speaker, Hon Kennedy Njoku, (Osisioma North State) alleged that Hon Orji was insensitive to the welfare of members culminating in gross misconduct. He appeared jittery and incoherent

The  seconder to the motion, Hon Chijioke Chukwu, (Bende North) appeared more confident and coherent The members present voted overwhelmingly in support of the motion

Thereafter, in another motion for the election of a new Speaker, Hon Thomas Nkoro, (Obingwa West) moved for Hon Chukwudi Apugo, (Umuahia East State Constituency) to be elected as the new speaker of the House. The motion was seconded by Hon Okey Igwe, Umunneochi State Constituency 

From all intents and purposes, the Ifeanyi Uchendu-led conspirators were not properly briefed and appraised of the impeachment process for a Speaker of the House of Assembly.

According to section 92, 2(c), of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, for an officer of the House to be removed, offenses bothering on:
i. Mismanagement
ii. Gross misconduct
iii. Embezzlement
must be established against such an officer. Such offenses must be stated in writing and served on the officer who would have the opportunity to reply to same.

Going forward, 2/3 majority of the members of the House must sign a resolution for his/her impeachment

In addition, the Clerk of the House as its Chief administrative officer of the House must be present to monitor proceedings, for instance, it is the Clerk who would have had several signatories calling for the impeachment of the Speaker. Hon Uchendu alleged that his list of signatories had 16 members, but Hon Stanley Nwabuisi whose name and signature were on the list had since distanced himself from the attempted plot, while Hon Ginger Onwusibe whose name and signature were also on the list was not with them. Could it be that the list was forged?

Perhaps, this led to the Speaker, Hon Orji convening a plenary of the House the same Tuesday

In his remarks during the session, Hon Jerry Uzosike, (Umuahia South) lamented that the actions of the conspiratorial members had brought disrepute to the Abia State House of Assembly 

He wondered how honorable members of the House could allow themselves to condescend so low as to be dragged to a residence outside the Assembly complex to perpetrate the impeachment plot, saying they deserve nothing but suspension.

In his contribution, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency and member-elect of the House of Representatives, Hon Ginger Onwusibe, decried the low-level governance that had been dragged to Abia State following the alleged sponsorship of the impeachment.

In his contribution, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Solomon Akpulonu, observed that some members purported to have signed the impeachment notice were away outside the country and wondered how the plotters were able to get their signatures if not they were forged.

He also pointed at some members who were said to have signed the notice but were in the plenary with the Speaker. He, therefore, urged the House to consider suspending only those who were physically present at what he called the “impeachment charade”. 

The motion for suspension of the erring members moved by Hon Uzosike and seconded by Hon Onwusibe was put up for a vote by Hon  Orji who presided over the plenary, members present voted overwhelmingly for the suspension of those who participated in the impeachment plot. 

The suspension which is for one month also included the suspension of all benefits to the affected members. 

Those suspended include:

Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu (Ohafua South);
Hon Kennedy Njoku (Osisioma North), 
Hon Chikwendu Kalu (Isiala Ngwa South),
 Chukwudi Apugo (Umuahia East), 
Aaron Uzodike (Aba North)
Thomas Nkoro (Obingwa West), 
Okey Igwe (Umunneochi), 
Obinna Ichita (Aba South),
 Chijioke Chukwu (Bende North).

The House also elected a new Deputy Speaker, Hon Egwuronu Mandela Obasi (Ohafia North) as its new Deputy Speaker. He replaces the suspended Ifeanyi Uchendu

The whole drama, a coup d’etat that failed to find its mark could be likened to what Shakespeare described as “…a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”

The RT Hon Chinedum Orji remains the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly as legality cannot be overthrown by illegality. Indeed, if the conspirators had altruistic motives, they would have approached the issue via due process, rather than the cloak-and-dagger stunt attempt

(CDA NEWS)
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