The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Kennedy Njoku, who was elected just yesterday, Thursday, has resigned from the post in a dramatic circumstance.
This was also as his Rivers State counterpart, Adams Dabotorudima, resigned today, Friday and was immediately replaced by a member representing Andoni Constituency in the Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani.
The Abia Assembly speaker, Njoku, was elected at about 4.10 p.m. yesterday, Thursday, after the Assembly impeached Chief Martins Azubuike over alleged gross financial misconduct and autocratic leadership style.
Njoku, who did not give any reason for his resignation other than ‘on personal ground,’ announced his resignation at the resumption of plenary at about 2.50 p.m. today Friday, but thanked members for the confidence they reposed in him by electing him as Speaker.
The Deputy Speaker, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe, who presided over the session, described Njoku’s resignation as “shocking.”
The Clerk of the House, Mr. John-Pedro Irokansi, immediately called for an election to be conducted to fill the vacuum created by Njoku’s resignation.
The member representing Umuahia East Constituency, Mr Chukwudi Apugo, nominated Mr Chikwendu Kalu, representing Isialangwa South Constituency, and was seconded by Mr Ifeanyi Uchendu, representing Ohafia South Constituency.
Kalu was elected by consensus and was affirmed with a voice vote by the 24 members of the assembly.
With his election, Kalu, an Aba-based legal practitioner, emerged the tenth Speaker of the sixth Abia Assembly.
And in Rivers State, Ibani was the speaker until the Court of Appeal nullified his election into the House last year and he consequently resigned from the seat. He was re-elected in the December 10 legislative rerun elections in the state.
Dabotorudima resigned shortly after administering oath of office on those declared winners of the rerun poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Those sworn-in included; Hon. Farah Dagogo, (PDP), Degema Constituency; Hon. Adonye Diri (PDP), Opobo/Nkoro Constituency; Hon. Victoria Nyeche (APC), Port Harcourt Constituency 1, Rt Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani (PDP), Andoni Constituency; Hon. Granville Tekenari Wellington (PDP), Asari-Toru Constituency 1; Hon. Enemi Alabo-George, (PDP), Asari-Toru Constituency II and Hon Abinye Blessing Pepple (PDP), Bonny Constituency.
Others included Hon. Mathew Dike (APC), Tai Constituency; Hon. Josiah John Olu (APC), Eleme Constituency; Hon. Innocent Barikor (APC), Gokana Constituency; Hon. Friday Nubari Nke-ee (APC) Khana Constituency II and Hon. Azubuike Chikere Wanjoku (APC), representing Ikwerre Constituency.
NAN. [myad]
