Hon. Chukwudi Apugo who represents Umuahia East Constituency was subsequently elected as the new Speaker of the House.

Following the impeachment of the Abia State Assembly Speaker, the police have taken over the Abia State House of Assembly Complex in Umuahia, the state capital.

Hon. Chinedum Orji was impeached on Tuesday over alleged gross misconduct and highhandedness. He is the son of former state governor Theodore Orji, who led the southeast Nigerian state from 2007 to 2015.

Hon. Chukwudi Apugo who represents Umuahia East Constituency was subsequently elected as the new Speaker of the House.

At least 18 out of 27 members of the Assembly who sat at an undisclosed location voted to impeach the Speaker, Channels TV reports.

The motion for the impeachment was reportedly moved by Chukwudi Apugo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who represents Umuahia-East Constituency.

The motion was seconded by Okey Igwe of the PDP, who represents Umunneochi Constituency.

However, the Clerk of the House was not available to swear in the new Speaker.

Orji, who represents Umuahia Central State Constituency, lost his bid to represent the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal constituency in the February 25 National Assembly election.

Chinedum Orji lost to the Labour Party candidate, Obi Aguocha.

However, following the Speaker’s removal, the police sealed off the Assembly complex, leaving legislators to gather in clusters on the premises.