Crisis: Group wants Court to declare seat of C’River speaker vacant

From Ene Ene, Calabar

The plot to remove cross river House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Elvert Ayambem thickens as more citizens are approaching the court to declare that seat vacant after he was impeached by majority of the members but was brought back after a week through the powers of the Governor, Prince Bassey Otu.

Another organization, Youth Action Network, has also approached the high court of Cross River State requesting it to order the clerk of the Assembly to begin processes for members to formally elect a new Speaker immediately.

Last week, A High Court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Abua in Calabar ruled that Elvert Ayambem, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, was validly removed.

This came as a result of a citizen, Raymond Manga Esq who filed a matter asking the court if the process of his return was valid in according with the law

Recall that 17 out of 25 lawmakers had 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 reinstated him.

Commenting on the originating summon from the Cross River high court with suit no HC/166/2024 between Joseph Odey vs Cross River State Government, attorney General and Commissioner for justice, the clerk and 23 others, 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 Ayambem 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.

They called on the court to declare that Elvert Ayambem remains removed or impeached.