3 months ago
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Seventeen out of the 25 members of the Cross River State House of Assembly yesterday announced the impeachment of the speaker, Elvert Ayambem, after snatching the mace during plenary.
But Ayambem insisted that he remained the speaker of the house, describing the alleged impeachment as a “ridiculous charade with no constitutional basis.”
Daily Trust reports that trouble started during plenary on Wednesday when the lawmaker representing Calabar South 1 state constituency, Effiong Ekarika, moved a motion for the removal of the speaker over alleged financial impropriety, which was seconded by Omang Charles, representing Bekwara state constituency.
Pandemonium, however, broke out when the Sergeant-at-Arm rushed to grab the mace, but Ekarika overpowered him and snatched the mace.
The 16 other lawmakers, who acted in harmony with Ekarika, immediately stood up with Nigeria’s flag, chanting solidarity songs, and took the mace to a hotel, which was adopted as the new chamber of the house.
But the media aide to the impeached speaker, Matthew Okache, disclosed in a statement that, “The status quo is that Rt Hon. Elvert Ayambem is the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
“Also note that the removal of the speaker and election are not done anywhere but within the precinct of the Assembly Complex.”
Daily Trust reports that Ayambem had launched a probe against the state former governor, Ben Ayade, alleging diversions of state resources and concessions of factories for himself and his cronies.
He also recovered state properties, vehicles, and tractors, which he alleged were stolen by Ayade and his officials.
But the lawmakers that moved against him (Ayambem) accused him of gross financial misconduct, incompetence, noncompliance with legislative laws, and failure to convene leadership meetings as the grounds for his removal.
