Abia State House of Assembly, yesterday, suspended the member representing Obingwa East Constituency, Solomon Akpulonu, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 14 sittings with immediate effect.
Akpulonu’s suspension was announced by the Speaker, Emmanuel Emeruwa, of the ruling Labour Party (LP), hinging the suspension on alleged “gross uncivilised attitude of granting press interviews without clearance from the House.”
The Speaker said: “I will like to draw our attention to the chaos that has always bedeviled our plenary sessions.
“We are all civilised, and we were elected to be in the state Assembly. We are, therefore, required to behave in a civilised manner.
“We are not touts. Therefore, if we have grievances or disagreements with anybody in this House, we must do it democratically and in a civilised manner.”
“As your Speaker, I will not tolerate such behaviour going forward.
“The member representing Obingwa East Constituency, Solomon Akpulonu, has consistently done that by causing nuisance in the hallowed chambers.
“If you want to tell me it is democratic, I will say no, and I have so far tolerated it to a breaking point.
“You all know that whatever happens in the House remains here. Akpulonu has consistently gone to the press without getting clearance from us. The evidence is there.
“There are consequences for every action. Even though he is not here, the message would be related to him. Effective immediately, Solomon Akpulonu will no longer be allowed to sit for the next 14 sitting days.”
Akpulonu is serving his third term, and is, thus , the oldest serving member of the House, whose party ( PDP ) has 11 of the 24 members , while the ruling Labour Party has 10 , Young Progressives Party (YPP), two and All Progressives Congress ( APC ), One.
