Commotion As Plot To Impeach Anambra Speaker Fails Again

Like a cat with nine lives, Rita Maduagwu, Speaker of Anambra
State House of Assembly, on Tuesday survived a second attempt to
remove her from office in one year.

On Tuesday, 19 out of 30 members of the legislature shortly on
resumption of plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker, Hayford
Oseke, purportedly impeached the speaker.

Ikem Uzoezie (Aguata 11) had moved a motion for her impeachment
and was seconded by Onyebuchi Offor (Ekwusigo).

Thereafter, Benson Nwawulu (Ogbaru II) nominated Uzoezie as the
new Speaker after Oseke had stepped down.

He was seconded by Kingsley Iruba (Nnewi South II).

Uzoezie, who had taken over as new speaker, began to reel out
names of members he said were signatories to the impeachment which
included Nnamdi Okafor (Awka South II) and Pascal Agbodike (Ihiala
I) constituency.

But as he did, Agbodike suddenly surfaced and shouted that he
was not part of the plot.

Again Uche Okafor (Ayamelum), while toeing Agbodike’s stance,
said he was not also part of the impeachment plot.

Three others objected, saying that the impeachment was not
properly done.

Then the chamber became rowdy. They sat briefly and adjourned to
Thursday.

Two hours later, the Speaker, Maduagwu, emerged shielded by a
horde of government and security agents, including the Secretary to
the State Government, Solo Chukwulobelu.

Then accompanied by the Clerk, Pius Udoh, with 11 other members
who formed the forum presiding over the plenary, she described the
purported impeachment as a bundle of illegality and said the
plotters were radicals.

“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-third to impeach me and later adjourned sitting to
Thursday 15,” she said.

Later, in a briefing, the Clerk of the House of Assembly said
there was no impeachment after all and that the renegades didn’t
sit.

According to him, the purported impeachment contravened section
92 (c) of the 1999 constitution as amended, that the sitting of the
11 members was illegal.

He said that was why he refused to swear in Uzoezie as
speaker.