LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The embattled speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, has asserted that he continues to hold his position, despite seventeen members signing a notice of his impeachment.
The representative for Calabar South 1, Effiong Ekarika, brought forth the motion to remove Ayambem, with Charles Omang supporting it.
In a statement released on Wednesday by his chief press secretary, Matthew Okache, Ayambem described the impeachment process as unlawful.
Okache claimed that Ekarika, who proposed Ayambem’s impeachment, disrupted the meeting by “inviting hoodlums to enter the chamber.”
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.”
Despite the impeachment attempt, Ayambem remains undeterred and committed to elevate the Assembly and support Governor Bassey Otu’s administration.