BY JANE UKONU
The gale of defections in the Imo State House of Assembly may lead to the emergence of a new leadership.
Chiji Collins, the current Speaker, was among those who dumped the PDP for the APC in a bid to keep his position.
Aside the crave for a new Speaker, the position of Deputy Speaker remains vacant after the APC gained the majority with its members swelling to 18 .
More decampees from the PDP are still expected to cross over to the APC in days to come.
Newspaper reports in Owerri said House members are unhappy with the Speaker for some reasons and may have lost confidence in him.
Speaker Collins was recently involved in a certificate controversy as alleged by an Owerri based newspaper.
The big hurdle for the Speaker to cross at the moment is the issue of loyalty.
Some political associates of Governor Hope Uzodinma, are skeptical if Speaker Collins who was fiercely loyal to ousted Governor Emeka Ihedioha, will be loyal to Uzodinma.
A close associate of the Governor told this newspaper “ We wonder where he (Collins) will switch his loyalty. This is a big concern to us because he was loyal to Ihedioha.
“We doubt how if he can transfer that loyalty to the new Governor. The State legislature is a crucial arm of government and very sensitive. Considering the present circumstance in the State, can we entrust the legislature in his hands?. This is a knotty issue despite the fact he has joined us in APC. He may have done that to keep his job.
This newspaper observed that some members of the House are pushing for a “brand new leadership devoid of the colouration of the past”
On Tuesday, some PDP lawmakers crossed over to the APC. They include Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru), Eddy Obinna (Aboh Mbaise), Kennedy Ibe (Obowo), Crown Onyemaechi Njoku (Ihitte Uboma), Kanayo Onyemaeechi (Owerri West), Chiagozie Nwaneri (Oru East), Dominiic Ezerioha (Oru West) and the Speaker, who represents Isiala Mbano State constituency.
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