Tension as Anambra’s female speaker disappears with mace to escape impeachment

- There was a reported plan by the members of the Anambra state House of Assembly to impeach the speaker
- The situation at the House of Assembly forced Governor Willie Obiano to intervene as he held a meeting with 28 legislators

In a bid to avoid being impeached by her colleague, the speaker of the Anambra state House of Assembly, Mrs Rita Maduagwu, has disappeared with the mace, the symbol of authority in the legislature.

The Punch reports that the speaker escaped with the mace and forced activities in the Assembly to a halt with the about 28 members present not able to go ahead with the business of the day.

It was learnt that she carried out the act without the knowledge of the members of the House.
The situation forced the governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano, to drive to the House of Assembly complex in an effort to intervene.
The report said the governor also addressed the 28 members of the House who are members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and pleaded with them to persuade others not to carry out the impeachment.
“When the bell signifying her coming into the chambers rang several times, the Speaker was nowhere to be found,” the report said adding that this caused the majority leader, Victor Okoye, to call for the adjournment of the sitting till Tuesday, April 11.

The member representing Ekwusigo constituency, Onyebuchi Offor, reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the speaker’s attitude adding: “We came this morning to hold our normal session, only to be disappointed that the Speaker had absconded with the mace.

“I am of the PDP and the governor came and spoke with 28 APGA members of the House.

“I didn’t know the governor’s mission because it was impromptu. But I knew he must have come to preempt our sitting because we had had poor leadership under Rita Maduagwu.

“But I’m assuring you that justice must prevail. No matter where she runs to, we have determined to take a decision on the leadership of this House.
“There is no going back, because we are here to serve Anambra people well.”