Elechi’s Impeachment not Target of Ebonyi Assembly Crisis

Contrary to rumours that the impeachment of the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku was a calculated attempt to impeach Governor Martin Elechi before the end of October to pave way for the enthronement of his deputy, Mr. Dave Umahi, THISDAY gathered that the crisis in the House was internal disagreement among the lawmakers.

Nwazunku was impeached on July 21, by 18 out of 24 lawmakers over alleged incompetence, violation of oath of office, code of conduct among others. Consequently, he was replaced with Mrs Helen Nwobasi. 

Since the impeachment, the house has been factionalised into two groups led by Nwazunku and Nwobasi, as both still lay claim of the Speakership of the House.

A source in Nwobasi camp, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that the crisis in the house was far from politics as being alleged, but a normal change which was inevitable for progress and peace of the House.

The source also debunked the insinuation that notable politicians from Izzi clan were sponsoring the crisis so as to appropriate governorship position against the zoning formula in 2015.

"I want to tell you, the crisis in the state House of Assembly which led to the impeachment of the Speaker on July 21 is far from the rumours that the lawmakers wanted to impeach the governor and pave way for emergence of his Deputy, Mr. Dave Umahi. The crisis is not politically motivated as perceived. It is a pure in-house disagreement".

"We should also remove our minds from the speculation that some notable politicians from Izzi clan are sponsoring the crisis to get power in 2015", he said.

The lawmakers have the right to effect changes in the house. It was done in 2011, when Hon. Ike Nwankwo was removed as Speaker. Why didn't they say we were being sponsored? What is happening is game of majority, when Majorities have their way, the minority have their say. It is not political party crisis, it is a desire for positive change”, the source noted.

Already, the governor said he would continue to mediate among the lawmakers to ensure that "what we have at the end is a respectable house of Assembly not house of impeachment and suspension".

Elechi accused the sponsors of an advertorial in one of the national dailies, titled "Our stand on Ebonyi State House of Assembly crisis and the hidden threat to impeach Governor Martin Elechi", of attempting to put him in a head on collision with the State lawmakers and his in-laws of Izzi clan.