Abia House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended deputy speaker Ifeanyi Uchendu and eight other members over the purported impeachment of the speaker, Chinedum Orji.

Mr Orji, who presided over the plenary session, announced the immediate suspension of the lawmakers for one month with no benefits.

Other suspended members included Kennedy Njoku (Osisioma North), Chukwudi Apugo (Umuahia East) and Aaron Uzodike (Aba North). The rest were Thomas Nkoro (Obingwa West), Okey Igwe (Umunneochi), Chikwendu Kalu (Isiala Ngwa South), Obinna Ichitta (Aba South) and Chijioke Chukwu (minority leader – Bende North).

The legislators had, by 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, purportedly suspended the speaker for “his insensitivity to the welfare of members and other sundry activities.”

Sixteen of the 24-member house had allegedly signed for the speaker’s impeachment at a guest house in the Umuahia metropolis. At the venue, the former speaker, Mr Njoku, had moved the motion for the speaker’s removal and was seconded by Mr Chukwu.

The meeting was presided over by the suspended deputy speaker.

In a video that went viral, the lawmakers had, in a voice vote, unanimously endorsed the speaker’s impeachment and elected Mr Apugo as the new speaker.

But, hours after the purported impeachment, Mr Orji convened an emergency plenary session at the assembly complex, where nine members, including himself, resolved to suspend the other nine members.

The motion for their suspension was moved by Jerry Uzosike (Umuahia South), seconded by Solomon Apulonu (majority leader – Obingwa East).

Only members who physically participated in the purported impeachment were suspended, and those whose signatures were allegedly obtained were exonerated pending further investigations.

Subsequently, the house replaced the suspended deputy speaker with Mandela Obasi, immediately sworn in as the new deputy speaker.

Mr Orji also informed the police commissioner and director of the State Security Service that only certified members would be allowed access to the parliament chamber.

The house, after that, set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the alleged misconduct of the suspended members and submit its report in one week.

Addressing journalists shortly after the plenary session, Mr Orji said he had faced several humiliations as a speaker, adding, “They should give the evidence of my financial recklessness. They want me to always be at loggerheads with the governor of the state, and I told them that I don’t need to always do that over their own welfare. If I decided that I’m no more interested in doing that fight, that it should be a collective effort, I don’t think I’m wrong in doing that.”

(NAN)