Two deputy speakers have emerged in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

The two deputy speakers – Mr Obasi Odefa and Mr Kinsley Ikoro – emerged on Monday.

Odefa represents Onicha East State Constituency while Mr. Kinsley Ikoro represents Afikpo North West Constituency in the state House of Assembly.

The state House of Assembly had in a plenary declared vacant the seat of the embattled deputy speaker, Odefa and elected Ikoro to take over the position.

The speaker, Mr Francis Nwifuru said that Odefa resigned from the house and called for nomination for the election of the new deputy speaker.

According to him: “Obasi Odefa resigned from the House of Assembly and he is not questioning it. He can’t prove me wrong. He knows his signature. We are guided by the constitution and the rules of the house.

“I’m the speaker and the chief lawmaker of the state. I see the press briefing he did as something that did not come from his mind. Maybe because he has made up his mind to resign.

“Obasi Odefa knows fully well that he used his own hands and signed his resignation. He wrote to me personally that he has stepped down or resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and defected to APC. He has toed the part of honour to have resigned.”

A motion moved by Onu Nwaonye representing Ohaozara West Constituency and seconded by Anthony Nwagede representing Izzi East Constituency nominated and elected Ikoro as the new deputy speaker.

In a swift reaction, Odefa said he is still the deputy speaker of the house and that he never resigned from the house as claimed by the speaker and other members.

He accused Nwifuru and the members of the house of forging his signature and threatened to drag them to court.

He, however, petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and Commissioner of Police of the state police command and other security agencies to come to his rescue, adding that his life is in serious danger.

According to him: “I’m still the deputy speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly. They forged my signature and they know what that means. Because of the threat, I was receiving that they will kill me and abduct my children.

“I have written to the IGP, commissioner of police, DSS and other security agencies to protect my life. There was a threat and intimidation by the agents of the members of the house to my life.”

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