John Charles Makurdi
Benue Speaker, Hon Terkibir Ikyange, has been impeached.
Mr. Titus Ubwa, from Vandeikiya state assembly, has emerged the new Speaker.
Political tension continued to heighten in Benue State on Tuesday as 22 out 30 members of the state House of Assembly impeached the Speaker of the House, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange, his deputy, Mrs. James Okefe and the Majority Leader of the House, Benjamin Adanyi, for alleged abuse of office.
The lawmakers accused the Speaker of abuse of office and high-handedness.
The lawmakers consequently elected the former Chief Whip of the House, Mr. Titus Ubah, representing Vandeikya Kyan constituency, as the new Speaker.
Johnson Egli Ahubi (Otukpo/Akpa) was elected Deputy Speaker, while Avine Agbum (Makurdi South) was elected Majority Leader.
The motion for the Speaker’s impeachment and that of other principal officers of the House was moved by Mr. Richard Ujege (Konshisha state constituency) and seconded by Mr. Anthony Ogbu (Ado state constituency)
The House had, on 10th of July, adjourned sitting till 15th of August, 2018, only for the 22 members to have an emergency sitting on Tuesday.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after his election, the new Speaker, Mr. Titus Ubah, stated that, Mr. Ikyange was unanimously removed as a result of his high-handedness.
He said: “The eighth Assembly of the Benue State is a House that has come to do what the people have elected them to do and once they notice that there is anything that would tarnish the image of the eighth Assembly, the House will rise to that challenge and that is what the House has done today.”
Talking about the vote of confidence members passed recently on the impeached Speaker, the new Speaker said, “After passing that vote of confidence, somebody also rose and said that the vote of confidence should not get into their heads.
“And shortly after that, it was discovered that it has gone to their heads.”
Punch
