Imo lawmakers on Monday morning impeached Speaker Paul Emeziem.
They replaced him with Kennedy Ibe.
The exercise was carried out amidst tight security with 19 of the 27 lawmakers said to have signed the impeachment papers.
It was learnt that the purportedly impeached Deputy Speaker, Amara Iwuanyanwu, stormed the Chambers with six lawmakers and some security personnel to impeach the Speaker.
Before Emeziem was removed, the complex was barricaded, barring Assembly staff, lawmakers and their aides from gaining access.
The session which didn’t last more than 15 minutes came to an end immediately Ibeh assumed office as the new helmsman of the parliament.
Emeziem, who got wind of his removal, rushed into the complex but was barred from gaining access into the complex.
He was said to have been tear-gassed but he insisted to have his way.
The new Speaker was one out of the 18 lawmakers whose names appeared to have signed a resolution, removing the ex-deputy speaker.
Emeziem, however, told reporters that he had not been removed.
He said that the news of his impeachment was ” childish, null and void”
Emeziem said, “Amara Iwuanyanwu can’t convene a plenary because he was properly impeached. If there should be any plenary, I am the one empowered by the law to call for it. Today is not our plenary day. Today is for our committee sittings not plenary. Amara Iwuanyanwu stands impeached.”