Group wants court to order fresh election for Speaker of the C’River State Assembly
Ani Bassey
A socio political organisation, the Youth Action Network, has asked a high court in Calabar Cross River State to order the clerk of the Assembly to begin processes for members to formally re-elect Elvert Ayambem or elect a new Speaker immediately.
This follows a recent decision by another court in the state presided over by Justice Emmanuel Abua which ruled that Elvert Ayambem, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, was validly removed.
Director General of Youth Action Network, YAN, Joseph Odey said they were asking the court for an order of interim injunction.
Odey, an APC Member in Cross River State, said they want the court to restrain the governor and other government officials from recognizing or relating with Elvert Ayambem as Speaker pending when the motion is heard
The organization wants the court to further restrain Ayambem from parading himself as speaker pending when the motion is heard.
The motion itself is saying he was not validly elected back as speaker after his impeachment and was therefore holding the position illegally.
According to Odey, the situation implies that the state does not have a speaker at present.
They also want the court to invalidate all activities of the House of Assembly presided over by Ayanbem since his impeachment.
The originating summon was brought pursuant to order 19 of the high court (civil procedure) Rules 2023.
The summon was accompanied by a 13 paragraphs affidavit which Odey, the claimant, deposed to.
The organization wants the court to determine whether the Assembly can function effectively without a substantive Speaker without being properly constituted.
Recall that 17 out of 25 lawmakers had weeks ago alleged that Ayambem was involved in gross power abuse, financial impropriety and had passed a vote of no confidence in him.
They impeached him on May 22, 2024 but Gov Bassey Otu intervened a week after and the speaker was reinstalled.
