Imo speaker impeached — six days after removal of deputy

Paul Emeziem, speaker of Imo state house of assembly, has been impeached.

Emeziem was impeached on Monday following a petition signed by 19 lawmakers out of the 27 lawmakers in the state.

The petition, which accused him of gross misconduct and abuse of office, was read, adopted on the floor of the house, and signed by the lawmakers.

Following the removal of Emeziem, Kennedy Ibeh (pictured), member representing Obowo constituency, was sworn in immediately as the new speaker.

The assembly staff, other lawmakers, and their aides were reportedly barred from gaining access into the assembly complex.

TheCable had reported that Amara Iwuanyanwu, deputy speaker of the house, was removed from his position last Tuesday after Ekene Nnodim, lawmaker representing Orlu state constituency, presented a petition against him.

The petition was signed by 18 out of the 27 lawmakers of the Imo assembly.

However, the suspension of the deputy speaker had reportedly caused a disagreement among the lawmakers.

Four out of the six suspended lawmakers, including Ibeh, who were recalled by the assembly, had disassociated themselves from the suspension of the former deputy speaker.

The four lawmakers had alleged that their signatures were forged on the petition signed against the deputy speaker.