By Anayo Okoli

Umuahia—THE political crisis rocking Abia State deepened Monday when the State House of Assembly descended on two of its members who did not participate in the impeachment of the former deputy governor of the state, Comrade Chris Akomas, as the duo were punished.

They are the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Chinedum Elechi, who was forced to resign and Mr. Nwogu Okoro, who represents Aba South state constituency.

The two did not sign the impeachment allegations against the former deputy governor.

Elechi, a lawyer, and Chairman, House Committee on Information, represents Ukwa West constituency and a strong supporter of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and, by extension, Akomas.

Meanwhile, the House has written to Governor Theodore Orji, informing him of the impeachment of the former deputy governor, Comrade Chris Akomas.

In a letter by the Speaker, Mr. Agwu U. Agwu, the House said “on the 2nd day of August 2010, Abia State House of Assembly, at her plenary, received and considered the report and findings of the said investigative panel which held that the allegations leveled against Comrade Chris Alozie Akomas were established and proved before them and Abia State House of Assembly, by more than two-third majority votes, without any dissention, duly adopted the report and findings of the panel.

“As a result of the panel adoption of the report by Abia State House of Assembly, Your Excellency is informed that Comrade Chris Alozie Akomas stands removed from office as deputy governor of Abia State under section 188[9]  of the 1999 of Nigeria”.

In another development, the impeached deputy governor, Akomas,  has said that the House impeached an empty office as he had already resigned.

He said through his lawyer, Obinna  Nkume, that the House continued the “purported impeachment as mere face-saving device.”