The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has suspended three of its lawmakers for allegedly spearheading the campaign to change the leadership of the Anambra State House of Assembly.
The Chairman of the party in Anambra, Norbert Obi, made the announcement at a news conference in Awka on Thursday.
The suspended members are Ikem Uzoezie, Harford Osekke and Victor Okoye, representing, Aguata 1, Awka South 2 and Anambra West State Constituencies, respectively.
Obi, who urged the aggrieved and warring members of the party to sheathe their swords to avoid escalation, described the trio as ring leaders of the attempted impeachment saga.
“Granted the fact that we had problems during the just- concluded party primaries in the state, it is not enough to pull the party down the more when the party has set up a reconciliation committee.
“It is therefore, the position of the party that all aggrieved members should sheathe their swords as failure to do so will amount to setting our own house on fire.
“Be that as it may, the three ring leaders of the attempted impeachment saga, namely Ikem Uzoezie, Harford Osseke and Victor Okoye are hereby suspended from the party, pending when they will appear before the disciplinary committee of the party,” he said.
It will be recalled that the house on November 13 removed its Speaker, Rita Maduagwu, and elected Mr Uzoezie as the new speaker.
Maduagwu has since dismissed her removal as illegal and invalid, insisting that she remained the speaker of the house.
Meanwhile, the police on Thursday used tear gas to disperse lawmakers, staff and supporters of various factions of the Anambra State House of Assembly as the crisis in the assembly entered day 3.
The House became factionalised on Tuesday with the controversial removal of the speaker, Rita Maduagwu, by about 20 of the 30 state lawmakers.
She was replaced by Ikemba Uzoezie.
But backed by some state officials, she later regained access into the chamber, on Tuesday and held a session with 11 members of the assembly.
She also described her removal as a “bundle of illegality” but Uzoezie on Wednesday said her removal was irrevocable. He also denied that the removal was a plot targeted at the state governor, Willie Obiano.
Interestingly, both speakers adjourned the sitting of the house till today, Thursday.
But obviously in a bid to prevent outbreak of violence between both factions and their supporters, the police cordoned off the complex.
Over 300 armed police officers cordoned off the complex from the Alex Ekwueme Square entrance from 8 a.m.
This affected workers of the nearby judiciary complex. Others who had businesses in the area were also denied entrance.
Later, some lawmakers mobilised their supporters to the House, allegedly to show solidarity with Maduagwu.
Police repelled the protesters with tear gas.
.NAN