Senate condemns ‘unconstitutional’ impeachment of Plateau speaker

The Senate, on Tuesday,  has condemned the ‘unconstitutional attempted impeachment’ of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abok Ayuba of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

This Senate also urged the Assembly to be guided by the rule of law and the constitution in all of its legislative business.

Special Assistant to the Senate President, Ezrel Tabiowo, disclosed this in a statement titled ‘Senate Wades Into Plateau House Of Assembly Crisis.’

The statement read in part, “Coming under Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Rules, Senator Istifanus Gyang, moved a motion of urgent public importance entitled, “Disruption of Legislative Business in PLHA: Need for Early Intervention of the Senate to Avoid Deterioration.”

“Gyang in his motion, noted with concern, the barricading of the Plateau State House of Assembly, which has halted legislative business as a result of lack of access to the premises.

“According to the lawmaker, the alleged impeachment of the speaker, Ayuba Abok, by eight (8) members of the House, fell short of the two-third constitutionally required number, as provided for in Section 92 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Gyang stated that majority of the Members of House are opposed to the alleged impeachment of the Speaker.

“He noted that the Conference of Speakers of the 36 States have denounced the alleged impeachment and withheld recognition for the Yakubu Sanda leadership.

“The lawmaker warned that the impasse and stalemate if left unattended to, may further degenerate.”

The lawmaker was quoted as saying that “the development has the capacity to negatively affect the Democratic image and standing of Nigeria at the global stage.”

Read also: Plateau Speaker, Abok, impeached by 8 out of 24 lawmakers

The statement continued, “Citing Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Gyang explained that its provision empowers the National Assembly to intervene in the affairs of the State Assembly, where the House is unable to transact normal legislative business.

“Accordingly, the Senate, in its resolution, urged the Plateau House of Assembly to be guided by the rule of law and the constitution in all legislative business, particularly where and when it affects appointment and impeachment of a presiding officer in order to deepen democracy and uphold the independence of the legislature as an arm of government.

“The chamber also condemned the unconstitutional attempted impeachment of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abok Ayuba by eight (8) Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly.”