Impeachment: Trouble In Imo House of Assembly

By Charles Igbo

The news on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, sounded unbelievable. Yet, it spread like wild fire during the harmattan season. A number of Social Media Platforms carried it. The Deputy Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, has been Impeached, the stories screamed.

Depending on the platform, it was wildly celebrated. Yet,  some commentators were cautious. They asked questions. Is it true? Is it possible? What happened?

There was confusion. It stemmed from the fact that the story added that six members of the House who have been on indefinite suspension for months have been recalled. Something fishy must be going on, everybody concluded.

Who is pulling the string?, was the question.

The question is legitimate. Iwuanyanwu evokes different emotions in people. He is, at once fiercely loved and fiercely hated. But it has always been thought that in the House of Assembly, he had more admirers than non-admirers.

However, in the Assembly, he is regarded as Governor Hope Uzodimma’s boy, his eyes in the Assembly. Some say he is the Governor’s man- Friday. They feel he snitches on them. Which was why the news of his impeachment was celebrated by some people. “Serves him right.” “This is the beginning of his fall. “Somebody called him the

Deputy choir master!”

When the six members of the Assembly were suspended, the story was that Iwuanyanwu was behind it. When the former Speaker of the House, Chiji Collins, was replaced by Speaker Paul Emeziem, the story was that Iwuanyanwu was behind it.

Truth, however, is that he is fiercely loyal to the Governor. Which was why the impeachment story came as a surprise. Was the Governor aware of the impeachment plan? If he was, why was he not able to stop it. Or, has Iwuanyanwu fallen out of favour?

If he was impeached, as was the story this Tuesday, and the suspended members recalled, then, something went wrong in the House. Loyalty has shifted. And, perhaps, the Governor could be the ultimate target.

According to Ogubunka Nwadike, the former State Publicity Secretary of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who shocked the Party by defecting to the All Progressives Congress, Iwuanyanwu’s impeachment is targeted at the Governor. He said it is a prelude to the plan to impeach the Governor.

He said the plot to impeach  Iwuanyanwu, and so the Governor, was hatched in Lagos at the Sheraton Hotel. He said the meeting was, allegedly, between Emeziem and the Imo PDP hierarchy. And that Emeziem was given the sum of $300,000 (N168m) for the job.

According to Ogubunka, to impeach Uzodimma, they needed to impeach Iwuanyanwu first. But a PDP source has since dismissed Nwadike’s allegation as thrash. “How did Emeziem carry the sum of $300,000 back to Imo from Lagos? This is thrash. What has happened is that Iwuanyanwu has been paid back in his own coin.”

Iwuanyanwu’s impeachment was carried out on November 2, at what was allegedly, a hurried Plenary session. The motion to impeach him was moved by Hon. Even Nnodim of the Orsu  Constituency. He was the one who submitted the resolution to impeach Iwuanyanwu. He said out of 27 members, 18 members signed to impeach Iwuanyanwu as Deputy Speaker.

Receiving the resolution, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Paul Emeziem, said: “Since this resolution was signed by 18 members out of the 27, the resolution stands.”

Yet, it is still not known whether Iwuanyanwu has actually been Impeached or not. According to Ogubunka, it was a failed exercise. But others counter him, and insist Iwuanyanwu has been Impeached.

There is yet no official reaction from Government House. It is yet to be seen what the outcome will be. Will the impeachment stick or not? Will the Governor keep quiet and ignore? Is Speaker Emeziem on his way out, or will he consolidate? A group has already given him 24 hours to resign. But, time will tell.

The next few days will be dicey. And interesting.