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Suspended Imo lawmakers advised to explore political option

By Collins Osuji, Owerri
12 August 2021   |   3:05 am
Former member of Imo State House of Assembly, Emma Dike, has advised the eight suspended members of the House to consider withdrawing the matter from the court and explore political solution.

Imo State assmbly

Former member of Imo State House of Assembly, Emma Dike, has advised the eight suspended members of the House to consider withdrawing the matter from the court and explore political solution.

The former House Committee Chairman on Information, in a phone chat with The Guardian, yesterday, argued that the courts might further aggravate their case, instead of resolving it.

According to him, even the courts are aware that the Speaker solely enjoys the right to interpret the House rules, adding: “It is not always right for the courts to interfere in the internal affairs of the House.”

The ex-lawmaker also advised the affected members to explore the political options, which would likely proffer the desired solution to their problems.

He said: “Imo Assembly operates under the House rules, and the House leadership has made us understand that the suspension was due to unparliamentary conducts. The Speaker of the House interprets the rules.

“However, since the matter has been taken to court, whatever anyone says now may be sub judice. So, I am of the opinion that we allow the court to do the needful. But what I believe is that there are ways the suspended members can explore a political strategy to resolve the problem, instead of going to court, which will further aggravate the issue.”

The court, at the end of the day, he noted, may still come up with the position that it is the Speaker that interprets the House rules.

“Though the affected lawmakers have denied their approaching an Abuja Federal Court to seek redress over their suspension, which they described as illegal and undemocratic, one Wisdom Okere, their supposed counsel, has insisted that he was briefed by the suspended lawmakers to prosecute their matter,” Dike disclosed.

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