Financial Misconduct, Incompetence Among Reasons Cross River Assembly Speaker Was Impeached

The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, has been impeached over sundry allegations, including financial misconduct, incompetence, noncompliance with legislative laws, and failure to convene leadership meetings.

The Speaker was impeached on Wednesday by 17 out of 25 members of the Assembly after a vote of no confidence on the flood of the Assembly.

The motion for his impeachment was moved by Effiong Ekarika, representing Calabar South 1, and Omang Omang of the Bekwara state constituency supported it.

The 17 lawmakers had earlier signed a petition against the Speaker for gross financial misconduct, incompetence, noncompliance with legislative laws, and failure to convene leadership meetings as the grounds for his removal.

On financial impropriety, the lawmakers accused him of inability to account for N48 million meant for electricity bills and over N404 million from the Internal Revenue Service designated for oversight functions.

They also alleged that the Assembly leadership could not account for N20 million from local government deductions.

They also accused the impeached Speaker of appointing members to move or second motions rather than following the democratic practice of allowing members to volunteer.

They argued that he also violated the Cross River State Legislature Funds Management Law 2021 by approving expenditures beyond his authorised limit and refusing to inaugurate the Legislative Funds Management Committee.

I remain C’River Assembly Speaker, Ayambem declares

Meanwhile, Ayambem has reacted to his impeachment, declaring that he remains the assembly’s Speaker.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Matthew Okache, he faulted his impeachment process, declaring it as “null and void”.

He alleged that Akarika, who moved his impeachment motion, disrupted the session by “inviting hoodlums to enter the chamber.”

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 statement read further.

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Oluwatobi Odeyinka

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