Anambra Assembly members exchange blows as factional Speakers struggle to take seat [PHOTO]

Rt. Hon. Uzoezie at the Speaker's seat as Hon. Rita Maduagwu stands beside him today, 29/11/2018.

The struggle by factions of the Anambra State House of Assembly to take possession of the seat of the Speaker caused a fight in the hallowed chambers today, Daily Post reports.

Both factions of the House, led by their separate Speakers had arrived the State Assembly complex at about 10am in the morning, but could not sit for plenary because of the tussle over which of the two Speakers should preside over the meeting.

About 22 out of the 30 members of the House had three weeks ago impeached Speaker Rita Maduagwu, replacing her with Hon. Ikem Uzoezie. But Maduagwu had quickly denied being impeached, while the Uzoezie faction insisted she remained impeached.

This had led to the sealing of the House by police authorities to forestall any breach of peace.

But on Wednesday, police unsealed the complex ahead of Thursday sitting.

Both factions went inside to administer the House.

Maduagwu had first entered the hallowed chambers and sat on the Speaker’s seat, but later left when she found that only two of her supporters were present.

As about 2:30pm when she returned to preside over the House, Uzoezie had already taken the Speaker’s seat, refusing to give way for Maduagwu, causing a huge uproar in the House.

Two members, Hon Obinna Emenaka, and a pro Maduagwu lawmaker who recently suffered a vehicle accident, however, engaged a pro Uzoezie lawmaker, Romanus Obi, in a fight but members rallied round to stop the fight.

Emenaka who now uses crutches deployed them in the fight, but was quickly dispossessed of them by another Pro Uzoezie lawmaker, Onyebuchi Offor.

Culled from Daily Post.