Anambra: One house of Assembly, two speakers

There was confusion on Tuesday at  the Anambra State House of Assembly as two   speakers emerged  after  the impeachment of the Speaker  Rita Maduagwu.

Twenty members of the House had earlier in the day claimed to have impeached Maduagwu over  financial impropriety, gross misconduct, incompetence and sundry allegations. The House  has 30 members.

The motion to impeach Maduagwu was moved by Ikem Uzozie, representing AguataII constituency. He was seconded by Onyebuchi Offor (Ekwusigo constituency).

Three members of the House who refused to join in the exercise were suspended.

Uzozie was thereafter  nominated  for  speaker by his group,  but the Clerk of the House, Pius Udoh, allegedly  sneaked out from the chamber, apparently to avoid swearing in Uzozie.

Udoh later told reporters  that the “purported impeachment did not meet the constitutional requirements”.

While  addressing the House, Maduagwu described her impeachment as “a bundle of illegality”.

She  said, “Nobody can impeach me because I have not committed any offence.

“They didn’t have any power known to any law to impeach me. They needed two-thirds of our members to impeach me  or the governor. So, I’m still the speaker.

Maduagwu,  who was surrounded  by some government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Solo Chukwulobe, regained access to the chamber after about two hours and held a session with 11 members.

She adjourned the house till November 15.

It was gathered that her impeachment  was connected  with  the All Progressives Grand Alliance primaries  which most of the members of the House lost out.