Why we suspended 3 lawmakers, declared one seat vacant – Imo Assembly

The Imo State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Kennedy Ibeh, Thursday threw more light on why the House suspended three members of the Assembly and declared the seat of the Ngor Okpala member vacant.

The new leadership of the IMHA said the suspension of members representing Ideato North State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Arthur Egwim, member representing Isu State Constituency, Rt Hon. Ngozi Obiefule and her Nkwerre State Constituency counterpart, Hon. Obinna Okwara was to serve as deterrent for dereliction of duty.

The Speaker also said the declaration of the seat of the honorable member for Ngor Okpala vacant by the House is purely a. constitutional issue in respect of which, the Rt. Honourable had no discretion to exercise to the contrary.

Ibeh who stated this In a release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Speaker, Ifeanyi Onyekachi said, “the suspended members abandoned the state assignment and pursued their private businesses and assignments at the detriment of the State.

The speaker said the suspended members acted dishonourably by disregarding the resolution of the House for which they – themselves gave nod to and willingly committed themselves to.

“A development which in turn translated to overburdening the responsive members with loads of assignments in scrutinizing the budget and interfacing with the Heads of MDAs for defence as Mr. Speaker and other House members who kept to the commitment were seen leaving office between 8 and 9pm within the period of budget considerations.”

The house said it’s frivolous and spurious for any of the affected Assembly members to go about with falsehood that he was suspended for attending a burial ceremony. This claim is spurious especially as it was not all the Honorable members who attended the said funeral were affected by the suspension.

Ibeh explained that the House will put the interest of Imo people first before any other interest, saying it is no longer business as usual as the Imo State House of Assembly had vowed to join hands with Governor Hope Uzodinma to move the state forward.