Principal officers positions: PDP lawmakers strife with LP colleagues in Abia House of Assembly; House sets screening Committee for Commissioner nominees
Crisis ensued in Abia State House of Assembly’s plenary, Friday, when the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, announced members of the Labour Party as main principal officers of the 8th Assembly.
(Speaker, Abia Assembly)
On the list were the following lawmakers Hon. Uchenna Okoro Kalu (LP Arochukwu), as the Majority Leader, Hon.Destiny Akaraka,(LP, Aba North), as Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Emeka Obioma, (LP, Umuahia South), as the Majority Chief Whip, and Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu, (LP, Osisioma North).
The announcement heated up the House and caused a serious chaos as members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by member, representing Obingwa East State Constituency, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu, vehemently opposed and intercepted the Speakers efforts from making the announcement.
(PDP legislators)
Hon. Akpulonu who was the immediate past Majority Leader of the concluded 7th Abia Assembly argued that he cannot sit and watch the Speaker and the entire Labour Party legislators of the 8th Assembly unlawfully take the positions legitimately belongs to the PDP which has the majority of members in the current Assembly.
Recall that, elected members of the PDP constitutes simple majority of the Assembly with 11 members while the Labour Party (LP) has 10 members, Young Progressives Party (YPP) 2 and All Progressives Congress (APC) 1.
Shortly after the plenary, the PDP members led by Hon. Solomon Akpulonu, while addressing newsmen disclosed that the Speaker acted contrary to the rule book highlighted in Order 8, sub-rule 42 of the House of Assembly, which he referred to as the grandnorm affirming that PDP remains the party with the simple majority in the 8th Assembly and not the Labour Party which is the minority.
(PDP Lawmakers)
They described the attempt by the Speaker as undemocratic and one capable of destroying their peaceful coexistence as legislators insisting that the right thing must be done.
Hon Godwin Adiele, (PDP Ukwa West) maintained that if the Labour Party must carry out their purported alliance coalition with other parties, that they should do it in the plenary session where the YPP and APC members will formerly decamp to the Labour Party.
In a counteract position, the Deputy Speaker, Rt.Hon. Okezie Austin told newsmen that the list announced by the Speaker earlier during plenary subsists, informing that the Labour Party legislators had formed a coalition with the two YPP lawmakers and the only APC lawmaker which automatically made them the majority group in the Assembly.
He further notified journalists that they had made the stance of their coalition with the other parties known to the PDP members at their Executive session yet they refused to accept the situation.
In their separate remarks, Hon. Barr. Anderson Akaliro, APC, (Umuahia North), Hon. Fine Ahuama, YPP, (Osisioma South), and Hon.Iheanacho Nwogu, YPP, (Osisioma North), all supported the position of the Deputy Speaker, noting that their coalition alliance with their Labour Party colleagues were simple understanding and one that will foster peace and harmony in the 8th House of Assembly.
In another development, the Speaker, Rt.Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, read a letter from the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, listing 19 persons that would serve in his cabinet as Commissioners and members of the State Executive Council respectively.
The names of the nominees are Prof Monica Ironkwe, Kingsely Anosike, Prof Eme Uche Eme, Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, Mike Akpara, Ngozi Okoronkwo, Okey Kanu, Ikechukwu Uwanna, Chaka Chukwumereije, Uzo Nwachukwu, and Prof Joel Friday Ogbonna. Others were Chima Emmanuel Oriaku, Nwaobilor Nwadinma Ananaba, Dr Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu, Ngozi Blessing Felix, Engr Don Otumchere Oti, Comrade Sunny Okebugwu Onwuma, Engr Ikechukwu Monday and Mathew Chikodi Ekwuribe.
Meanwhile, the House constituted a Committee that will screen the Commissioner nominees as presented to the House of Assembly.
Members of the Screening Committee are Hon.Chinasa Anthony, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Destiny Akaraka, Hon. Mba Nwoke, Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe, Hon.Boniface Ishienyi, Hon. Godwin Adiele, and Hon. Fine Ahuama. While Pastor Mike Eke will serve as the Secretary of the Committee.
The Speaker charged the Committee to do a thorough job and report back to the House in the next legislative date.
