The ongoing power tussle in the Anambra State House of Assembly on Thursday took a new dimension as the two factional Speakers, Hon Rita Maduagwu and Hon Ikem Uzoezie, the pro-impeachment Speaker struggled to be the occupant of the Speaker's seat.

Recall that three weeks ago, about twenty-two out of the thirty members of the house had impeached speaker Rita Maduagwu, replacing her with Hon Ikem Uzoezie.

Maduagwu had in her swift reaction insisted she is the Speaker of the Assembly, but the Uzoezie faction said there is no going back on the impeachment.

The Assembly complex was subsequently sealed by the police following a crisis that erupted the day the pro-impeachment group came to hold a plenary to forestall any breach of peace.

But at about 10:30pm on Wednesday, the state Police Command in a press statement said the complex has been unsealed ahead of Thursday sitting.

Trouble started when both factions of the house, led by their separate speakers arrived the state assembly complex at about 10am in the morning, but could not seat for plenary because of the tussle over which of the two speakers should preside over the meeting.

Maduagwu had first entered the hallowed chambers and sat on the speaker seat, but later left when she found that only two of her supporters were present.

As at 2:30pm when she returned to preside over the house, Uzoezie had already taken the speaker's seat, refusing to give way for Maduagwu, causing a huge uproar in the house.

A pro-Maduagwu lawmaker, Hon Obinna Emenaka representing Dunukofia constituency engaged a pro Uzoezie lawmaker, Romanus Obi, in war of words that almost degenerated to a fight but members forestalled it.

Emenaka who now uses crutches, following a recent accident he had deployed the clutches in the fight, but was quickly disposed of them by another Pro Uzoezie lawmaker, Onyebuchi Offor.

He said to Obi, "You are not ashamed of yourself, you were schemed out of the party's primary election in your area and you could not do anything."

Obi was however urged by members of his faction to keep calm and not reply him.

Information gathered has it that the Genesis of the fracas in the assembly was the refusal of the APGA to give tickets to most members of the house.

Feelers have it that all the pro-Uzoezie members of the house are those denied ticket by APGA to either return to the house or move over to the House of Representatives.

As at the time of filing this report, all the lawmakers have remained in the chambers, with Uzoezie sitting tight on the speaker's seat, while the clerk's refusal to make the mace available is hammering Uzoezie's attempt to preside over the house as Speaker.

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