Embattled Speaker of the Cross State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, has described as false, news of his removal by 17 of his colleagues.

In a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mathew Okache, Ayambem insisted that he remains the Speaker.

The statement clarified: “To be clear, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly is, without a doubt, Rt. Hon Elvert Ayambem and that is the current position. What happened earlier today (Wednesday) during the plenary, when Hon. Effiong Akarika, a member representing Calabar South 1, disrupted the session by inviting hoodlums to enter the chamber, is a ridiculous charade with no constitutional basis.

“The House of Assembly is not aware of any impeachment notice being served to anyone before the frivolous act as witnessed at the chambers. The alleged impeachment and replacement are speculative, and the general public is urged to disregard fake news and dismiss any notion of a crisis. The status quo is that Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem is the Speaker of the House of Assembly

“Mr. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, remains unconcerned and determined to elevate the Cross River State House of Assembly and support the Executive arm of government, led by Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, in achieving the people’s first mantra.”

While the tussle over the Speakership rages on, the official stance of Governor Basey Otu, remains unclear.

On Wednesday, a group of 17 out of the 25 lawmakers in the State House of Assembly had reportedly impeached Ayambem, over allegations bordering on financial impropriety.

Sources told The Document that a flurry of meetings are ongoing among key political stakeholders in the state to ensure Ayambem retains his seat.