Politics
Sporadic gunshots at Imo Assembly after chief whip sacked, 6 members suspended
The plenary at the Imo House of Assembly was proceeding as normal on Thursday until sporadic gunshots rend the air while lawmakers and workers scamper for safety.
It was gathered that prior to the shooting, the Speaker of the Assembly, Paul Emeziem, had announced the suspension of six (6) lawmakers for “conducting themselves in an unparliamentary manner”.
The Speaker of the Imo Assembly also sacked the Chief Whip of the House, Arthur Eqwim (Ideato North) and replaced him with Obinna Okwara (Nkwerre). In the same development, the Speaker, Emeziem, dissolved all the standing committees in the House.
According to the Vanguard report, the gunshots were fired into the air by security operatives after the development.
ALSO READ: Screening: I withdrew my APC membership since 2019 — Onochie
Among the suspended lawmakers, four are members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the others are two members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The suspended members included Uche Ogbuagu (APC, Ikeduru) Dominic Ezerioha (APC, Oru West) Micheal Crown (APC, Ihitte Uboma) Kennedy Ibe (APC, Obowo) Anyadike Nwosu ( PDP, Ezinihitte Mbaise) and Phillip Ejiogu (PDP, Owerri North).
However, one of the suspended lawmakers, Mr Ezerioha who spoke tersely said: “For now I have to be mute. I represent Oru West and my people have to decide.”
