The Cross River State House of Assembly has suspended the lawmaker representing Obubra I State Constituency, Dickson Agbor, indefinitely over alleged violent conduct considered inconsistent with the ethical standards of the legislative body.
The decision was reached during plenary on Thursday following the adoption of a motion raised by Davies Etta and seconded by Francis Bassey Asuquo.
Moving the motion, Etta strongly condemned the alleged incident involving Agbor, describing the behaviour as unacceptable for a member of the legislature and contrary to the values expected of elected representatives.
He stressed that lawmakers must always act in ways that uphold the dignity and integrity of the Assembly, adding that any conduct capable of tarnishing the image of the institution must be addressed decisively.
According to him, the House has a responsibility to demonstrate to the public that it will not tolerate misconduct from any of its members, regardless of status or political affiliation.
“We must ensure that members conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the values and responsibilities entrusted to us by the people,” Etta said while presenting the motion before the Assembly.
During deliberations, several lawmakers reportedly supported the motion, noting that maintaining discipline within the legislature was necessary to protect the credibility of the institution and public confidence in the legislative process.
Following discussions, the Assembly resolved that Agbor be placed on indefinite suspension from all legislative activities pending the outcome of a formal investigation into the allegation.
As part of the resolution, the House also approved the constitution of an ad hoc committee tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged violent conduct.
The committee is expected to thoroughly examine the matter, engage relevant parties, and present its findings and recommendations to the House for further legislative action.
Lawmakers said the investigative process would ensure fairness and transparency while allowing the Assembly to determine the appropriate next steps based on the committee’s report.
Although details of the alleged incident were not extensively discussed during the session, members of the Assembly emphasised that the suspension was necessary to allow for an impartial investigation without interference.
The development has drawn attention within political circles in Cross River State, as Agbor will remain barred from participating in legislative proceedings until the investigation is concluded and the Assembly decides on the final outcome of the case.
The ad hoc committee is expected to begin its work immediately and submit its report to the House upon completion of its investigation.
