Imo Assembly Speaker threatens to re-suspend five reinstated members

Imo State House of Assembly Speaker, Acho Ihim, has threatened to re-suspend the five lawmakers of the Assembly who were asked to take back their seats by the Owerri High Court last week.

They affected embattled are Israel Nnatoraonye of Mbaitoli State Constituency, Uche Oguike of Ikeduru State Constituency, Chiji Collins of Isiala Mbano State Constituency and Nkenna Nzeruo of Oru East.

Ihim, whose Chief Press Secretary, Marcel Ekwezuo, in a statement at the weekend in Owerri accused the affected lawmakers of violently employing the services of hoodlums to make a re-entry into the House, said the Assembly would apply the rules to suspend them if found culpable accordingly.

The statement said: “There are indications that the five members of Imo State House of Assembly reinstated by a High Court in Owerri on Monday, November 5, 2018, may go on another suspension while those who decamped from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state may lose their seats.

“This development may not be unconnected with the embarrassing and roguish display by the embattled suspended House members at the state House of Assembly Complex on Wednesday, November 7, 2018.

“Nkenna Nzeruo’s letter to the House intimating her of his decision to decamp to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was read on floor of the House on September 18, 2018; yet his second letter for a decision to decamp back to the ruling APC from the PDP is yet to be read on the floor of the House before his planned brouhaha orchestration.”

“It could be recalled that Chiji Collins and Donatus Onuigwe had before now emerged as flagbearers and candidates of the opposition APGA in their various state constituencies without intimating the House or the APC Imo State of their intention to decamp to another party. “The erring members are bound to lose their seats should Speaker of the House, Dr. Acho Ihim, instructs the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare their seats vacant as it is provided for in the law.”