The Enugu political crisis has worsened, with majority lawmakers initiating a move to impeach Governor Sullivan Chime, even as eight dissident lawmakers say they have impeached the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Eugene Odo.

News Express this morning broke the news of desperate moves by the minority members of the House to remove Rt. Hon. Odo and other principal officers of the House. The Speaker had told News Express that Governor Chime was behind the plot and that his offence was his refusal to get the House to grant his request for the approval of an N11 billion loan, which the House suspects is an attempt to swindle the state, as the administration leaves office in less than a month. Chime’s spokesman Chukwudi Achife, however, dismissed the allegations.

As Rt. Hon. Odo, feared, eight dissident lawmakers, sitting with police protection, later announced his impeachment and the election of Hon. Chinedu Nwamba as the new Speaker in a House of 24 lawmakers.

In reaction, the majority lawmakers have passed a motion to impeach Chime for alleged corruption. The impeachment notice was signed by 14 lawmakers, who directed the clerk of the House, Christopher Chukwuma, to serve Sir Chime with the impeachment notice without delay.

•Photo shows Enugu Speaker, Rt. Hon. Eugene Odo.