By Onyekachi Eze
It is no longer news that the present 9th House, 3rd Assembly of the Imo State House of Assembly has clocked 1 year in office, but not without leaving a particular landmark to behold.
Within the past one year since the House was inaugurated, one common characteristic that can be attributed to the majority of the members is the act of cross carpeting from one party to the other. In most cases, some even had to jump into three parties within six months.
The House, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins exactly marked its one year on June 13, 2020, following their date of inauguration on June 13, 2019.
Trumpeta Newspaper decides as a keen whatcher of events notes that only few can be excused from the defection syndrome ravaging the House.
This review takes a look at the lawmakers who abandoned the political vehicle that brought them into power and decided to pitch tenth with new parties.
The speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Chiji Collins leads the pack of defectors.
Chiji Collins is the member representing Isiala Mbano LGA. He is on a journey to second tenure, and can be said to be cruising to the 6th year having successfully completed his first tenure.
Collins has a chequered history in Imo Assembly if his political background is anything to be considered. Chiji was defeated by a woman in his state Constituency before providence played a fast one on him which became a life changer. When the appeal court nullified the election of the winner, PDP’s Joy Mbawuike in 2016, a re-run saw the Eziama born Collins win under APC backed by a powerful politician from the area, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.
After passing through induced suspension during the 8th House, he dumped the APC and won the 2019 polls under the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
He remained an APGA member until the battle for who becomes the next Speaker of the house after Acho Ihim thickened.
Although it was believed that his emergence as the winner of that coveted seat was allegedly made possible by his kinsman from Isiebu clan, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, he jumped the ship.
Considering that he is a ranking member from Okigwe zone, and favoured by the political sharing formula then, he joined Emeka Ihedioha party, PDP.
His membership of the PDP sealed the ‘deal’ to become the Speaker of the 9th House.
Unfortunately, the same Chiji Collins left the umbrella party for the broom party, APC, when Senator Hope Uzodinma was declared winner by the apex court, thereby sacking Ihedioha.
Succinctly put, within the past one year, the Isiala Mbano lawmaker got ”married” to three different political parties.
Following the Speaker is KENNEDY IBEH: Another ranking member of the 9th House is member representing Obowo State constituency, Barrister Kennedy Ibeh. Ibe is prominent in the House, and one of the vocal lawmakers that have made plenary session thick in IMHA. It won’t be an understatement that within the past twelve months, Ibeh pitched tent to three political parties.
Like Speaker Chiji Collins, the victory of Ihedioha against all odds forced lawyer turned lawmaker to have affinity with the PDP. Few weeks after his declaration for PDP, APC government came into power and Ibe was on the move to APC, the platform that had brought him to the House in 2015.
Also dumping AA for another party is NGOZI OBIEFULE: Hon (Mrs) Ngozi Obiefule is another legislator that cannot be overlooked in the house of Assembly. She represents Isu constituency, as well as marking her 5th year anniversary in the House.
Analyzing her political life from June 2019 to June 2020, she was returned back under the Action Alliance, AA. She was neither here nor there during Emeka Ihedioha’s eight months administration.
However, the advent of Chief Uzodinma changed the narrative when her defection letter was read on the floor of the House, officially declaring for the APC.
UJU ONWUDIWE: Hon (Mrs) Uju Onwudiwe, member for Njaba LGA shares similar political history like Obiefule.
Onwudiwe didn’t move to PDP, but headed straight to the APC immediately Uzodinma took over.
ARTHUR EGWIM: As one of the strongest mouth piece of the Rochas Okorocha’s era, the Ideato North representive shares same defection story and political experience with his Isu and Njaba counterparts.
What only may be said to be a slight difference was that during Emeka Ihedioha’s stay, Egwim worked harmoniously with the core PDP members and would have joined the umbrella party but for the Supreme Court ruling.
Leaving the AA for APC is OBINNA OKWARA: The crown prince of Eshi Nkwerre LGA, Barr. Obinna Okwara is another member that also acted the ‘defection’ drama. A former representative in the 7th House got reelected under the Action Alliance, AA.
However, it was an easy ride for him following the governorship ambition of his kinsman, Uche Nwosu who happened to be one of the top contenders.
Okwara shifted from the party to the APC. He is a second timer in the business of legislation.
CHIGOZIE NWANERI: The member representing Oru East constituency, Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri took over from Nkenna Nzeruo having won the most contended Assembly seat under the PDP.
It was contended in the sense that it is the LGA to Senator Hope Uzodinma. All eyes were on the LGA, hoping that the APC candidate would carry the day but at the end of the political struggle, Nwaneri emerged.
At the commencement of the 9th House, Chigozie Nwaneri served as the Majority leader of the house, until power changed hands.
Uzodinma’s entrance robbed him off as the Majority leader on the basis of zoning since he is from the same LGA with the governor.
It didn’t take the Pastor-like lawmaker time to align with the party of his brother Governor by dumping PDP for APC.
EDDY OBINNA of Aboh Mbaise state Constituency entered the gates of the Imo State legislature under the umbrella party of the PDP.
While the administration of his brother, Ihedioha lasted, Hon Eddy Obinna was seen by his colleagues as an ‘intermediary’ through whom the then governor can be accessed.
The story changed when the red cap chief after due consultations and considerations decided to join others to APC. Suffice it to say that the defection of other members didn’t attract much attention as Ochoudo’s defection did.
He has been receiving names for leaving PDP for APC.
Similar to what Eddy Obinna did, KANAYO ONYEMAECHI toed same path of dumping PDP for APC. He is the member representing Owerri West in the State Assembly. Anyone that knows Kanayo Onyemaechi can attest that he had been a die- hard supporter of the PDP, through the instrumentality of his boss and friend, Jerry Alagbaoso.
As a first timer, and a lawmaker from Owerri zone, joining APC was a shocker to Ndi Owerri zone.
HECLUS CYRIACUS OKORO: A business man, Heclus Cyriacus Okoro came to political limelight under the AA, but quickly moved to PDP during Ihedioha era before crossing over to APC at the emergence of Uzodinma.
ONYEMAECHI NJOKU: Hon Michael Onyemaechi Njoku was of the APGA before moving over to APC of later. Believed to be the youngest lawmaker of the Imo State House of Assembly and Member representing Ihitte/Uboma, he joins as one of the itinerant lawmakers of the House that have tasted two party membership within a year.
FREEDOLINE NNODUMELE: The member representing Orsu LGA, Hon Ekele Freedoline Nnodumele was elected under APGA, and later joined PDP to gain grounds. Shortly after Ihedioha’s departure, he made a U-turn to APC.
UCHE OGBUAGU: Ikeduru LGA representative, Hon. Uche Ogbuagu was once a crusader of the PDP and forerunner of Emeka Ihedioha.
The romance later turned sour when the ace comedian took to the media denouncing all the good testimonies he had for Ihedioha. In a bid to be in the ruling party in the state he moved to APC to clinch the majority leader after he narrated how he lost the Deputy Speakership.
AMARA IWUANYANWU: The deputy speaker of the 9th House and member representing Nwangele State constituency, Rt. Hon. Amarachi Chyna Iwuanyanwu is also among those who have tasted life in three parties in a roll. He came on board through a suprise win in APGA.
From APGA he moved to PDP, and now APC. He was made the deputy speaker immediately Okey Onyekanma of Mbaitoli resigned to fate due to zoning arrangement.
DOMINIC EZERIOHA: A legal practitioner turned parliamentarian of Oru West LGA. Like he used to say, ‘someone’s conscience would rise up one day to be the judge’, Hon. Dominic Ezerioha keenly contested and won under the PDP. As at the time of this report, he is a card carrying member of the APC.
CHIDIEBERE OGBUNIKPA: The member representing Okigwe LGA, Hon Chidiebere Ogbunikpa had a tough experience during the last conducted general elections and finally clinched the seat under the PDP.
Later on, he joined the bandwagon moving the APC.
PASCHAL OKOLIE: Another product of the PDP in the last elections is the member representing Orlu constituency, Hon. Paschal Okolie.
It took him time to sing the APC song after his colleagues bided farewell to their former political parties.
