He said after a member tested positive, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) decided to test the lawmakers and 13 more result came back positive.

Iwuala said the affected lawmakers have gone on self-isolation. But Emeka Ahaneku, special adviser on media to the speaker, said only three out of the 27 lawmakers members tested positive.

He said that many staff and members, who had undergone the test on Monday, turned out negative.

“It is true that there are incidences of COVID -19 in the House but they are not up to five. The number people are quoting is outrageous,” Nation quoted him to have said.

“A lot of staff and members were tested on Monday and results are yet to be released. So I don’t know where they are getting the number they are quoting.”

Last week, Collins Chiji, the speaker, had ordered a lockdown of the assembly complex after one lawmaker tested positive for COVID-19.

Chiji had said had said fumigation of the assembly complex would commence immediately.

The post 13 Imo lawmakers test positive for COVID-19 appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

This comes two weeks after the supreme court sacked Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor of the state, and affirmed Hope Uzodinma, candidate of the APC, as the winner of the 2019 governorship election.

Chiji, who was elected as speaker in 2019, defected with seven other lawmakers of the assembly. The speaker announced his defection and that of his colleagues during a plenary session on Tuesday.

The session, which was said to have lasted for 15 minutes, reportedly came to an end after the speaker announced the names of the defecting lawmakers.

Those who defected are Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru); Dominic Ezerioha (Oru West); Chigozie Nwaneri(Oru East); Kanayo Onyemaechi (Owerri West); Kennedy Ibe (Obowo)’; Onyemaechi Njoku (Ihitte/Uboma), and Eddy Obinna (Aboh Mbaise).

Earlier, about nine members of the assembly defected to the ruling party.

The defectors were from the PDP; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Action Alliance (AA).

On Monday, Charles Ezekwem, the state chairman of the PDP, also resigned his position.

Ezekwem said his decision to quit was based on the “prevailing circumstances” in the state chapter of the party.

The post Imo speaker, 7 lawmakers defect to APC appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The Speaker, who read out the names during the plenary, appointed Eddy Obinna representing Aboh Mbaise as the chairman of the screening committee.

Among the names were a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri; a former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chuma Nnaji; Vincent Udokwu, Bon Unachukwu, Reginald Ihebuzor and Emeka Ebiliekwe.

Others are Benjamin Ekwueme, Prof Uchenna Uwaleke, Nicholas Amaefule, Chijioke Nzekwe, Ekezie Okeahialam, Meekam Mgbenwelu, Umez-Eronini Unaeze, Mrs Ibekwe Nkeiruka, Sly Enwerem, Emmanuel Nwaogu and Tony Okere.

The Speaker urged the screening committee to do a thorough job and report to the assembly. He promised that the assembly would continue to support the governor in the determination to rebuild the state.

The post Ex-minister, 16 others make Ihedioha’s cabinet-nominees appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.