ABIA ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP CRISIS: PDP TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION — CHINWENDU

REPORTER: UZOMA NWANKWO

The member representing Isialangwa South Constituency in the 8th Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Dennis Chinwendu, has debunked the rumours making the rounds that lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) received gratifications from the state governor, Dr. Alex Otti, to allow the minority party to produce the presiding officers of the house.

Chief Chinwendu, who made this known while addressing Journalists on the recent development in the Assembly in Umuahia, called on residents of the state, especially his constituents, to disregard the unfounded rumour.

On the crisis rocking the house on appointment of principal officers, the lawmaker explained that the rule book of the house stipulated that the majority party would produce the Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip but expressed disappointment that the reverse was the case as the minority party hijacked the positions meant for them.

He noted that the PDP produced 11 members, Labour Party (LP) had 10, Young Progressives Party (YPP) had two while the All Progressives Congress (APC) produced one member in the house.

Chief Chinwendu wondered why things would be tuned upside down by the speaker of the house whom he said was duly notified through writing by different political parties on the positions.

Chief Chinwendu explained that they had staged a walk out protest during plenary on three occasions to press home their grievance, pointing out that their next move was the approach the court for possible interpretations on the sections of their rule book.

The lawmaker further called on the Governor to pay the lawmakers their allowances to enable them to discharge their responsibilities effectively and expressed the hope that the current leadership crisis rocking the house would soon be a thing of the past.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU