The Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Kennedy Ibeh (APC Obowo), has declared vacant the seat of Obinna Okwarra, representing the Nkwerre constituency.
Ibeh made the declaration following a motion moved by Blyden Amajirionwu (APC Ngor Okpala) and seconded by Chiji Collins (APC Isiala Mbano).
Amajirionwu said that Okwarra had defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in contravention of section 109, subsection 1g of the constitution.
According to him, the law stipulates that no member should defect to another party before the expiration of his tenure if his election was sponsored by another party.
He presented pictorial and video evidence of Okwarra’s defection, which was played on the floor of the house.
The speaker said that his discretion in resolving the matter was tied to the evidence presented to prove that the provisions of the constitution had been contravened.
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“Satisfactory evidence has been presented to prove that Okwarra has become a member of a party other than the one that sponsored his election. “His seat is therefore declared vacant,” Ibeh said.
He further directed the Clerk, Mrs. Chinelo Emeghara, to forward a clean copy of the house resolution to the Independent National Electoral Commission to schedule a date for a by-election for the election of a new representative.
Also at the plenary session, the speaker announced the recall of Dr. Arthur Egwim (APC Ideato North) from suspension, following his letter of apology to the house.
