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Tag: Speaker

  • Court fixes date for suit challenging impeachment of Plateau Speaker

    Court fixes date for suit challenging impeachment of Plateau Speaker

    A High Court sitting in Jos on Monday fixed March 15 for suit challenging to the removal of Mr Abok Ayuba as Speaker of Plateau House of Assembly.

    The suitfiled by Mr Gwottson Fom, member representing Jos South Constituency and Mr Tyem Pirfa, member representing Langtang Central, challenged the impeachment of Abok describing it as illegal.

    Other defendants in the suit are the new Speaker Yakubu Sanda, Clerk of the House, Longbab Wuyep, the Plateau Government, the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and 10 others.

    Counsel to the Nigeria Police, N.K Tali prayed the court for time to enable him the respond to the claims.
    Other counsel did not appear before the court.

    The lead counsel to the claimants, Edward Pwajok, SAN, did not object to the application for extension of time.

    Justice Nafisa Musa fixed March 15, for hearing.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Oct. 28,2021, Abok was removed by eight members of the legislative arm of the government. Sanda, was named as the new Speaker.

    He was removed by the lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

  • Why we suspended 3 lawmakers, declared a seat vacant – Imo Speaker

    Why we suspended 3 lawmakers, declared a seat vacant – Imo Speaker

    The Speaker, Imo House of Assembly, Mr Kennedy Ibeh, says three lawmakers suspended on Thursday abandoned state assignments for personal businesses prior to their suspension.

    “The suspension is to serve as a deterrent for dereliction of duty by members who take the business of the parliament for granted,’’ the speaker stated in Owerri on Friday.

    Members of the house sent on suspension are Mr Arthur Egwim (APC-Ideato North), Mrs Ngozi Obiefule (APC-Isu) and Mr Obinna Okwara (APC-Nkwerre).

    Ibeh explained that the trio absented themselves from the plenary session specifically arranged to expedite a perusal of the state’s 2022 budget estimates.

    “The suspended members acted dishonourably by disregarding the resolution of the house to which they themselves gave nod and willingly committed themselves.

    “Owing to the importance of the 2022 Appropriation Bill presented to the house on Dec. 17 by Gov. Hope Uzodinma, the house unanimously decided to interface with Ministries Departments and Parastatals within three days,’’ he stated.

    The speaker added that the decision was to allow for expeditious passage of the bill which required full participation and intelligent contributions by all members.

    Ibeh stated that unfortunately, in utter disregard to the sacredness of the all- important state assignment, the suspended members abandoned the assignment and pursued their private businesses

    “Mr Speaker and other house members who kept to the commitment were seen leaving the office between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. within the period of budget consideration.

    “This was not to the exclusion of the assembly staff that had to make extra sacrifices to keep late to ensure that the budget was delivered in record time.

    “It is therefore frivolous and spurious for any of the affected members to bandy around the falsehood that he was suspended for attending burial ceremony.

    “This claim becomes so spurious especially as not all the members who attended the said funeral were affected by the suspension,’’ he stated.

    The house also declared the seat of Ngor-Okpala constituency vacant.

    This followed the fact that Mr Tochi Okereke, who represents the constituency, absented himself from proceedings for more than one-third of the number of times the house sat since its inauguration in 2019.

    He explained that the declaration of the seat as vacant was purely constitutional.

    “Following a motion moved by the member representing Ideato South, the house went into full debate on the merits of the motion calling for the declaration of the seat vacant owing to absenteeism,’’ he added.

    The speaker stressed that leadership of the assembly had made it clear that it would put the interest of Imo people first before any other interest.

  • Imo Assembly impeaches speaker

    Imo Assembly impeaches speaker

    Imo State House of Assembly on Monday impeached its Speaker, Mr Paul Emeziem (APC – Onuimo), during a special sitting.

    Details of the impeachment process were not available at the time of report, but it was gathered that Emeziem’s removal followed a resolution signed by 19 of the 27 members of the house.

    Mr Kennedy Ibeh (APC – Obowo), a second-term member of the assembly, has emerged the new Speaker.

    Members of the house left the assembly’s premises as soon they finished the closed door sitting.

    Emeziem had last week announced the impeachment of the Deputy Speaker of the assembly, Mr Amarachi Iwanyanwu.

    He did not give any reason for the removal.

    New Imo Speaker rallies support for Gov. Uzodinma

    The new Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Mr Kennedy Ibeh, (APC Obowo), has urged members of the house to give their unalloyed support to the Gov. Hope Uzodimma.

    Ibeh, who made the call while briefing journalists at the Deputy Speaker’s lodge on Monday, urged lawmakers to put their best foot forward and support the governor in his efforts to move the state forward.

    He condemned the activities of the former Speaker, Paul Emeziem (APC Onuimo) while he was in office, particulary towards the impeachment of the Deputy Speaker, Mr Amarachi Iwuanyanwu (APC Nwangele).

    He stated that Emeziem’s actions as speaker desecrated the office, adding that his impeachment was his reward for the alleged desecration.

    He noted that lawmakers must carry out their primary functions, considering the interest of the state, adding that the sanity of the legislature will not be toyed with.

    The speaker noted that the ninth house had a troubled history owing to the inexperience of past leaders and promised that there will be a positive turnaround.

    He also assured people of the state that the house, under his leadership, would churn out motions, Bills and resolutions which will reflect the aspirations of Imo people.

    He, therefore, pledged to carry out his duties as speaker to the best of his ability and urged other members of the house to ensure the progress of the house.

    Recall that Emeziem was impeached during a special sitting of the house on Monday morning.

    Also recall that Emeziem’s removal followed a resolution signed by 19 of the 27 members of the house after which Ibeh was sworn in by the Clerk, Mr Chinelo Emeghara.

  • Plateau assembly crises: Impeached Speaker whisked away in police van

    Plateau assembly crises: Impeached Speaker whisked away in police van

    In continuation of the crisis rocking the Plateau State House of Assembly,the Speaker of the Legislature, Abok Ayuba, has now been whisked away from the assembly complex in a police Hilux van.

    The operation to take Ayuba out of the complex was led by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Edward Egbuka, on Monday afternoon.

    Recalled that Ayuba was on Oct. 27 impeached by 8 members of the assembly and elected Yakubu Sanda as the new Speaker.

    But Ayuba and members of the house loyal to him held a session outside the assembly complex same day during which they suspended six of the members that impeached him, and declared him(Ayuba) as the authentic speaker of the house.

    Gov. Simon Lalong had recognised Sanda as the new speaker of the assembly.

    However, Ayuba and the lawmakers loyal to him gained access to his office on Monday and were holding an executive session preparatory for a sitting when some youths staged a protest in front of the assembly complex in support of Ayuba.

    Egbuka told journalists that they were going to another venue to continue with discussions they started in the speaker’s office.

    He said that they would address the press when the discussions were concluded.

    Ayuba briefly told journalists that he did not know whether he was arrested or not.

    The embattled speaker said that he would address journalists at the end of everything.

    The speaker was taken out of the assembly complex, the youths who were protesting in front of the complex in his support were dispersed by security personnel.

    Tear gas canisters were thrown at the protesters with water cannons stationed to ensure that the protesters left the premises, as part of the operation.

  • BREAKING: Eight out of 24 members impeach Plateau Speaker, Abok

    BREAKING: Eight out of 24 members impeach Plateau Speaker, Abok

    There was pandemonium at the Plateau state House of Assembly on Thursday following the removal of Ayuba Abok as the Speaker.

    TheNewsGuru reports that Abok, a first-term lawmaker represents Jos East state constituency

    It was gathered that eight lawmakers out of the 24-member Assembly carried out the impeachment at the Assembly complex on Thursday morning.

    He was instantly replaced by the lawmaker representing Pengana constituency, Yakubu Sanda of the All Progressives Congress.

    The lawmaker representing Rukuba/Irigwe constituency in the state House of Assembly, Musa Agah who confirmed the development on Thursday described the act of the lawmakers as “the height of illegality”

    Shedding light on how the Speaker was removed, Agah told Punch, “It was this morning (Thursday) that some few members rushed to the Plateau state House of Assembly as early as 6 am. You know the state House of Assembly is made up of 24 members and the constitutional requirement for the removal of the Speaker is 2/3 majority which is 16 members.

    “So, eight lawmakers rushed to the Assembly this morning against the House rules that say that plenary commences from 9 am and even if there is going to be an extraordinary sitting, the Speaker is the one who is empowered to convene but that did not happen. When some of us got wind of what was happening, we rushed to the Assembly complex only to discover that Security operatives had barricaded everywhere. Some of us were stopped from gaining access to the Assembly complex while they also harassed others.

    “While the confusion was going on, the eight members said they have passed a vote of no confidence on the Speaker and went ahead to purportedly remove the speaker.”

     

  • Kebbi Assembly impeaches Speaker, Deputy Speaker

    The Speaker of the Kebbi House of Assembly, Abdulmumeen Kamba and the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Muhammad Buhari-Aleiro, have been impeached.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the impeachment was announced by Alhaji Muhammad Tukur, Chairman, House Committee on Information and Culture, shortly after closed door plenary on Tuesday.

    He said that the speaker was immediately replaced by the Deputy Chief Whip, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar-Lolo (APC-Bagudo West) while the deputy speaker was replaced by Alhaji Muhammad Ankwai (APC- Zuru).

    Tukur, who did not disclose the reason for the impeachment of the principal officers, said 20 out of the 24 members of the assembly attended the session.

    “These included, the Chief Whip, the House Leader and the Deputy House Leader, among other 20 members,” the chairman said.

  • Defection: Ayade was not appreciated in PDP, says Speaker

    Defection: Ayade was not appreciated in PDP, says Speaker

    Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly Eteng Jonah-Williams has said that Gov. Ben Ayade was not respected and honoured by the hierarchy of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Jonah-Williams, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Calabar, said that Ayade’s defection from the PDP to the APC was timely.

    The Speaker, who represent Yakurr II State Constiturncy in the Assembly, told NAN that out of the 25 House of Assembly members in the state, APC has 18, while the PDP has seven.

    “Before the governor took the decision, he consulted widely and majority of the people told him that he needed to move to the APC.

    “While in PDP, the governor was not respected and given the honour he deserved by the hierarchy of the PDP as the leader of the party in the state.

    “So, there was need for him to move. The Governor has also stated clearly that he needed to align the state with the happenings in the centre for the interest of the state.

    “Cross River is known for always playing politics with the centre. Since 1999, former Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke all played politics from the centre.

    “Ayade is the only governor from the state who has played opposition for six years now and he feels it is time to align with the centre for the benefit of the state,” he said.

    He recalled that during the last ward and chapter congresses of PDP in the state, the PDP national had to recognise a list of executive members who did not even contest for the positions at the ward and chapter level.

    He said that such marginalisation of key stakeholders in the state by the PDP also informed their decision to defect with the governor to the APC.

    “As Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, the ward list from my political ward that I have been winning elections with was neglected and a new list was constituted with members that I do not even know and nobody consulted me,” he said.

    According to the Speaker, the remaining two years period of Ayade will attract the needed development from the centre into the state.

    He gave assurance that APC will win all the elective positions in the state in the 2023 general elections in view of the governors defection to the ruling party.

    “The Superhighway and the Deep Seaport will now be given utmost attention by the Federal Government and other things will also fall in place as well.

    “Gov. Ayade has spent six years in office, I will advice him to consolidate on the gains of his industrial revolution in the state by completing the projects and privatising them for the future.

    “The House of Assembly wants the industries that were initiated by Gov. Ayade to live beyond this administration.

    “On road infrastructure, I want to specially commend the governor on the construction of the Mfom-Obanliku dual carriageway and the ongoing East-West road in Boki local government area,” he said.

  • Photo: Katsina Assembly gutted by fire, Speaker’s seat burnt to ashes

    Photo: Katsina Assembly gutted by fire, Speaker’s seat burnt to ashes

    A fire incident has been reported at the Katsina State House of Assembly Chamber.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG gathered that the Chamber was recently renovated by the Katsina State Government.

    The incident is coming barely 30 days after the same scenario occurred at the Katsina Central Market where items worth billions of naira were destroyed.

    According to an eyewitness, the fire was put out by the joint firefighters and security agents stationed at the State House of Assembly, noting that no life was lost.

    The Deputy Chief Whip of the House and member representing Kankia constituency, Salisu Rimaye said that no one can actually say the real cause of the incident.

    He said the Assembly got to know about the incident when the clerk of the House instructed the Sergeant at arm to go and clean up the chamber.

    He explained that the Sergeant at arm opened the chamber and discovered the incident.

    He further stated that a team of electricians at the Assembly has started a process to a certain the real cause but, he attributed it to electrical appliances especially the air conditioner left on.

    The fire started right behind the Speaker’s seat with the seat of the speaker completely burnt to ashes.

    Other areas touched by the incident are the press and guest gallery as well as some seats of other members of the assembly.

    Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Masari conducted an on the spot assessment of the incident.

    However. the House is reportedly on strike at the time of the incident due to the demand for financial autonomy from the executive arm.

  • BREAKING: Ex-Delta Acting Governor, Speaker, Prince Sam Obi is dead

    BREAKING: Ex-Delta Acting Governor, Speaker, Prince Sam Obi is dead

    Verified information reaching TheNewsGuru.com, TNG on Saturday morning has it that former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Prince Sam Obi.

    TNG reports that Obi was speaker during the administrative years (2007 – 2015) of former governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is dead.

    He later emerged the acting governor in November 2010 after nullification of the election of Uduaghan as Governor of Delta State by the Court of Appeal in Benin, Edo State.

    He acted as governor for three months before Uduaghan was later reinstated as governor.

    He was Speaker between 2010 and 2011.
    He succeeded Rt.Hon.Martins Okonta after he was removed by the Court Of Appeal.

    More details later…

  • Just in: Speaker Pelosi demands Trump’s removal, threatens impeachment (+ Video)

    Just in: Speaker Pelosi demands Trump’s removal, threatens impeachment (+ Video)

    “If the vice president and the Cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment,” Pelosi.

    Speaker, Nancy Pelosi has called on Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to immediately remove President Donald Trump from office following the deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol.

    “If the vice president and the Cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment,” Pelosi said.

    Pelosi joined a growing number of lawmakers in demanding the end to Trump’s presidency, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, either through the 25th Amendment or impeachment despite Trump having less than two weeks left in office.

    Democrats and many Republicans have blamed Trump for inciting his supporters to storm the Capitol Wednesday in a failed effort to block certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

    Watch video: