Cross River State House of Assembly Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, has reaffirmed his position as the leader of the legislative body, amidst ongoing controversy, in what could be tagged a show of defiance.
Undeterred by the impeachment move spearheaded by more than 20 members, Ayambem has reiterated his claim to the top seat in the Cross River State House of Assembly.
The stage was set for Ayambem’s removal when Effiong Ekarika, member for Calabar South 1, tabled the motion on the House floor, with Charles Omang providing crucial backing by seconding the proposal.
The Speaker’s team, via Chief Press Secretary Matthew Okache, launched a counterattack, branding the impeachment process “null and void”, and accusing Effiong Ekarika of “inciting chaos” by “allowing unauthorised persons” to enter the chamber and disrupt the proceedings.
The statement read, “The Cross River State House of Assembly has been alerted to false news reports that the Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, has been impeached.
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“To be clear, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly is, without a doubt, Elvert Ayambem. He is in the current position. What happened earlier today (Wednesday) during the plenary, when Effiong Akarika, a member representing Calabar South 1, disrupted the session by inviting hoodlums to enter the chamber, is a ridiculous charade with no constitutional basis.
“The House of Assembly is not aware of any impeachment notices being served to anyone before the frivolous act as witnessed at the chambers. The alleged impeachment and replacement are speculative, and the general public is urged to disregard fake news and dismiss any notion of a crisis. The status quo is that Elvert Ayambem is the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
The Speaker shrugged off the impeachment threat, reaffirming his unwavering focus on elevating the assembly’s standing and providing steadfast backing to Governor Bassey Otu’s agenda.
To prevent a breakdown of law and order, a specialized security unit comprising the Department of State Services, the Dragon Squad, and police officers took charge of the assembly complex, effectively de-escalating tensions among lawmakers.