Odey Drags Ayambem To Court, Challenges His Reaffirmation As C'River Assembly Speaker

Odey Drags Ayambem To Court, Challenges His Reaffirmation As C'River Assembly Speaker

In a dramatic turn of events, a fresh judicial battle has erupted over the speakership of the Cross River State House of Assembly, as Joseph Odey, Director General of Youth Action Network (YAN) and an All Progressive Congress (APC) member, files a court order seeking to restrain Rt. Hon Elvert Ayambem from being recognized as Speaker of the 10th Assembly.

Odey's suit, numbered HC/166/2024, names the Governor of Cross River State, Attorney General of the state, Clark of the House, and all 25 Members of the House of Assembly as defendants. He argues that Ayambem's reaffirmation as Speaker is invalid, as it did not follow the proper procedures outlined in the Assembly's rules.

The controversy began on May 22, 2024, when a motion for Ayambem's removal was moved by Honorable Effiong Ekarika and seconded by Honorable Charles Omang, leading to his removal as Speaker by 17 out of 25 Assembly members. However, Governor Bassey Otu's intervention led to Ayambem's reaffirmation as Speaker on May 27, 2024.

Odey's court order seeks to:

-1. Restrain government officials from recognizing Ayambem as Speaker until the matter is heard and decided by the Court.

- 2. Restrain Ayambem from acting as Speaker until the matter is heard and decided by the Court.

In his statement, Odey emphasized the need for democratic principles and proper procedures in selecting the Speaker, warning that "Cross River State is at risk of governmental disruption due to the absence of a duly elected Speaker of the House of Assembly."

The case is set to be heard on May 22, 2024, and is expected to determine the fate of Ayambem's speakership and the stability of the Cross River State House of Assembly.