The political drama playing out in Abia State parliament has taken another twist as Bishop Kennedy Njoku, who was Thursday elected Speaker of the 6th Abia State House of Assembly, announced his resignation “on personal grounds”.

Hon. Njoku who was ushered into the chambers announced his resignation shortly after the opening formalities.

A new Speaker promptly emerged in the person of Chikwendu Kalu, representing Isiala Ngwa South. The sole nominee for the position, Hon. Kalu was elected by voice vote. He has been sworn in by the Clerk of the Assembly.

Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after he was removed from office, Rt. Hon. Martins Okechukwu Azubuike on Friday afternoon staged a comeback, declaring his removal as illegal and void. A statement issued in Umuahia, the state capital, by his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Clinton Uba, states: “The attention of the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Okechukwu Azubuike has been drawn to the news making the rounds that my Boss has been removed from the office, as the Speaker of the 6th Abia Assembly and purportedly replaced.

“Let me state here in clear terms that Mr. Speaker, Rt Hon. Martins Azubuike remains the incumbent Speaker with other principal officers as the existing status quo of the House remains intact.

“For the records, the House adjourned sitting for the Christmas and New Year break to reconvene on the 16th January, 2017.

“However, the clerk of the House, Sir John Pedro Irokanji on the strength of the letter to the speaker by the governor, and in a press release signed by the clerk, requested that members convene for an emergency session on Wednesday 28th December. Later that same day, Mr. Clerk issued another statement, shifting the emergency session to Friday 30th December, 2016 as a result of another letter to the Speaker by the Governor that the 28th date is no longer feasible.

“The questions begging for answers are:

“1. Who ordered the purported Thursday 29th December session?

“2. How did the members gain access to the securely locked hallowed chambers, when the chief security officer of the chambers was not around as the day was not officially slated as a legislative day?

“3. The custodian of the symbol of authority, the mace, the sergeant at Arms  was not at the  said plenary session, which is a confirmation that the mace used to perpetrate the illegality must have come from a road side carpenter, putting to ridicule the symbol of authority of the House.

“Therefore, the alleged impeachment of Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike is illegal, unacceptable and of no consequence. And indeed, no action of the House from 28th day of December, 2016 is deemed legal in the eyes of the law until the House is properly constituted to carry out such or any other legislative process.

“The legislative rascality as exhibited by supposed Honorable House Members cannot withstand any interpretation by the letters of the constitution and hereby declared null and void.

“Abia State House of Assembly members should be bold enough to tell Abians the “Real reasons” why they made this failed attempt on the speaker and not hide under the non existing gross misconduct, financial recklessness, abuse of office, insensitivity and non inclusiveness as all these allegations blatantly baseless.

“We challenge the aggrieved House members to bring forth the documents relating to the financial recklessness as alleged to open plenary where they would allow Abians seat at the gallery to watch and listen to the House proceedings to know the actual liars in this matter.

“Rt. Hon. Martins Okechukwu Azubuike remains Abia 6th Assembly Speaker until due processes are followed.”

Photo: Martin Azubuike…says I remain the Speaker