Imo Assembly removes Deputy Speaker, recalls six suspended lawmakers

Deputy Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Amara Iwuanyanwu (APC, Nwangele), has been removed.

This followed the resolution reached by 18 members on the floor of the House, yesterday, after a motion moved by Ekene Nnodumele (APC, Orsu).

The Speaker, Paul Emeziem (APC, Onuimo), on receiving the resolution, said: “Since this resolution was signed by 18 members (out of the 27), the resolution stands.”

After the pronouncement, Iwuanyanwu, who replaced Okey Onyekanwa (PDP, Mbaitolu) after the sack of then Governor Emeka Ihedioha by the Supreme Court, quietly left the chamber alongside the Majority Leader, Kanayo Onyemaechi, and two other lawmakers.

Till the time of filing this report, the details of the resolution were not made known to The Guardian.

This came after the House had recalled the six suspended members following the recommendations made by the ad hoc committee set up by the House to entertain their appeals. They were on July 7, 2021 suspended over alleged parliamentary misconduct.

The six lawmakers include Kennedy Ibe (Obowo), Michael Njoku (Ihitte-Uboma), Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru), Dominic Ezerioha (Oru West), Philip Ejiogu (Owerri North) and Anyadike Nwosu (Ezinihitte Mbaise).

Announcing the recall, the Speaker enjoined the recalled lawmakers to be law-abiding, to respect constituted authority and work towards achieving stability and progress of their legislative functions in the overall interest of the people and state.

“As a follow-up to the decision of the House, I will like to use this opportunity to thank the members who have deemed it necessary to bring back our brothers and colleagues, who have been on suspension for three months.

“On the other hand, I will also like to express my candid appreciation to our suspended friends and colleagues who, all through this period, remained law-abiding and showed reasonable sense of remorse,” Emeziem said.

He used the opportunity to appeal to members of the House to toe the path of love and peace.

“We must always remember that this is an institution of authority, which has been before us and has to remain for generations to come. We must, therefore, respect and honour it as instructed even by God Almighty.

“I want to express my wish not to allow this circumstance to recur in as much as we continue to operate in unity, love and understanding of one another,” he added.