TheNewsGuru

Tag: impeachment

  • PDP senators ‘keeping vigil at National Assembly over Saraki, Ekweremadu’

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators are taking turns to sleep over at the National Assembly Complex to prevent a removal of Senate President Bukola Saraki by their All Progressives Congress (APC) colleagues, a senator said yesterday.

    Senator Philip Gyunka (PDP Nasarawa North) spoke in Lafia, the state capital, yesterday when he presented his letter of intent to contest for Nasarawa State governor, to the leadership of the PDP in the state..

    He said: “I woke up this morning from my night shift and I will still be going back to my night shift. That is to say we are keeping vigil.

    “We are rotating the shift among ourselves. As regards what they are saying about impeachment (removal), it is not possible because the international community is aware of their plot.

    “Don’t be discouraged. They will intimidate you as they do to us. Like myself, I don’t know how many times they have been calling me. We didn’t know they have come to truncate democracy. But the Senate president, being a product of PDP, has come to the rescue of the the situation.

    “We are keeping watch on their plans.

    “If they want the Senate President removed, which is impossible they must have two third majorities.

    “They have been attempting and failing. I know they will still make attempts but they will not succeed because I know Nigerians will not allow them to make mockery of the nation’s democracy.

    “If you hear a lawmaker speaking, he is speaking the minds of thousands of people.

    “How then should someone, who was appointed and has neither gone to the rural areas to feel the pulse of the people, nor held town hall meeting be insisting that a man that was duly chosen by his colleagues be removed at all course.

    “Oshiomhole (Adams) should be educated that this is not unionism. This is an issue that has to do with the Constitution and we will not allow him to violate it,” he said.

    The senator told PDP supporters that he would bring to the office of the governor the heart of a servant who had known hard times, tasted poverty and acquired requisite discipline to govern.

    “I shall bring the benefit of my vast experience as an economist, banker, and a legislator at both the state and federal levels to reform and transform the state.

    “ I will bring a new vision and new direction to governance that will be truly democratic, representative and professional to deliver and redeem the state from its downward descent,” Gyunka said.

    State PDP Chairman Francis Orogu said the state chapter of the party was proud of its representatives at the National Assembly and would encourage them to maintain the tempo of their loyalty to the PDP.

  • Impeachment: Saraki only postponing his doomsday – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said it has uncovered sinister plans by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to attack its Senators, even as the party says Senate President Bukola Saraki and his cohorts are only postponing doomsday by not reconvening.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports APC Ag. National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabena, in a statement on Tuesday made this known while stressing that the change of Senate leadership is imminent.

    “As Chairman of the 8th National Assembly, Saraki’s decision not to reconvene the National Assembly done with the support of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara further buttresses our position that Saraki is ever ready to pursue his selfish interests over National Interest.

    “This is another brazen display of his penchant for abuse of powers and sabotage of government, however the cost and implication.

    “While Saraki and his cohorts continue to postpone their doomsday regarding the imminent Senate leadership change, the yet-to-be considered 2019 budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is dangerously delayed.

    “Clearly, Saraki’s actions as Senate President now bother on high treason.,” the statement read.

    TNG reports the NASS was billed to reconvene today to consider the INEC 2019 elections budget request forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 17, 2018.

    However, Saraki and Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara , through Yusuph Olaniyonu, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to Senate President and Turaki Hassan, Special Adviser (Media and Public Affairs) to Speaker, House of Representatives in a statement had given reasons why the NASS was unable to reconvene.

    According to the statement, the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters and officials of the INEC must have held on or before Monday August 13, 2018 before the reconvening of the NASS.

    “The joint committees were also expected to meet with the joint Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Loans and Debts on the Eurobond loan request after which two reports would have been ready for presentation in the two chambers.

    “However, no such meeting had taken place yet as a result of which both Senate and House of Representatives cannot reconvene as there is no report to consider.

    “Until the Committees have a ready report for the consideration of the two chambers, it will be most irresponsible to recall members from recess especially those that may have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj,” the statement read.

    Meanwhile, speaking on the sinister plans by the PDP to attack APC Senators, Mr. Yekini in the APC statement said, “the plot was hatched in the private residence of a PDP leader in Maitama-Abuja on Sunday night.

    The statement reads:

    “Our attention has been drawn to sinister plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to attack some All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators as part of the PDP’s desperate bid to ensure that Dr. Bukola Saraki clings to the position of Senate President.

    “By this statement, we call on security agents to protect APC Senators. If any Senator is harmed, the PDP and Saraki should be held directly responsible. We call on security agencies to also closely monitor the activities of some PDP leaders including Saraki because the plan to attack APC Senators is real and imminent.

    “We were informed that the plot was hatched in the private residence of a PDP leader in Maitama-Abuja on Sunday night. The meeting was attended by 15 pro-Saraki Senators including the Senate President himself.

    “We learnt that the PDP expressed worry over the APC’s Senate majority and considered several options to stop the APC from taking over the Senate leadership among which is attacking some APC Senators to ensure their inability to attend legislative sittings.

    “The PDP have recruited thugs for this purpose, we have now learnt.

    “During Sunday’s meeting, the PDP Senators planned several types of attack, one of which is to lure some of them (APC Senators) out at night in the guise of inviting Senators to a political settlement meeting and thereafter instigate a violent confrontation during the meeting and unleash standby PDP thugs on APC Senators” Our source privy to the meeting informed us.

    “This revelation has not come to us as a surprise because the Senate President through proxies has made several failed attempts to buy over APC Senators with N100million each.

    “As a Party, we don’t believe in inducing lawmakers to achieve our legitimate goal of removing Saraki as Senate President. We will get the support of some PDP Senators to get the required 2/3 vote and impeach Saraki. We are already talking to some of PDP Senators who believe and support the direction of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to achieve our legitimate goal.

    “We reiterate our call for Saraki’s immediate resignation as Senate President. He cannot lead the APC majority Senate. But if he fails to resign honourably, we will impeach him. The PDP’s propaganda and threat of violence cannot save him”.

     

  • Saraki challenges APC’s impeachment threats in court

    …asks court to restrain AGF, IG, others from ‘unlawfully’ removing him

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to among others, restrain the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from supporting any effort to impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki through means other than that provided for under Section 50(2)(c ) of the Constitution.

    The request from part of the reliefs in a suit filed on Monday by Senators Rafiu Adebayo (PDP, Kwara South) and Isa Misau (PDP, Bauchi Central) through a team of lawyers, including former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Mahmud Magaji (SAN).

    The plaintiffs stated that, going by recent occurrences and utterances by some leaders of a faction of All Progressives Congress (APC), from which they had defected, they were convinced of plots to force Saraki off the Senate President’s seat by means other than that provided in Section 50(2)(c ) of the Constitution.

    Section 50(2) provides: “The President or Deputy President of the Senate or the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall vacate his office…. (c) if he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House.”

    Listed as defendants in the suit are: The Senate, the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawal (Senate Leader), Senator Bala Ibn Nallah (Deputy Senate Leader), Senator Emma Buacha (Deputy Minority Leader), Clerk of the Senate, Deputy Clerk of the Senate, Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police and Department of State Services (DSS).

    Misau stated, in a supporting affidavit, that there was evidence of threat of constitutional breach which require the court to intervene by restraining the defendants from resorting to unconstitutional means to actualise their alleged threat and plot to unseat the Senate President following his defection to the PDP.

    The plaintiffs are praying the court for, among others, an order restraining the 9th, 10th and 11th defendants, either by themselves, agents, servants, privies by whatsoever name so called from enforcing any act of the 1st, 3rd to 8th defendants purporting to have removed the 2nd defendant from office without such act being in compliance with the provisions of Sections 50(2) of the Constitution of the Fedora! Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    * A declaration that the President of the Senate cannot be said to have vacated his office by virtue of Section 50(2)(c) of the Constitution when he has not been removed from office by the votes of not less than two-third majority of the members of the Senate.

    No date has been set for the hearing of the suit.

     

  • Buhari’s impeachment will not be entertained – Saraki

    Buhari’s impeachment will not be entertained – Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has said moves to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari would not be entertained.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Saraki stated this while fielding questions during a world press conference he addressed in Abuja on Wednesday.

    According to Bamikole Banks Omisore, Special Assistant, International Relations to the Senate President, who highlighted the point, “focus is to strengthen our democracy and provide enabling environment for free and credible elections”.

    Bamikole Banks Omisore tweets about Buhari’s impeachment

    Saraki, at the world press conference, stated that the 8th National Assembly stands committed to doing the utmost to ensure that the responsibility and functionality of governance are met.

    “We want to reassure Nigerians that, on our part, we remain committed to working for a country governed by the rule of law.

    “We stand committed to doing our utmost as lawmakers to ensure that the responsibility and functionality of governance are met.

    “We remain confident in the support of my colleagues and their focus on the job at hand, which is to serve the Nigerian people.

    “My confidence is unshaken. We remain committed to the success of the historic 8th National Assembly, and to the continued progress of our country,” he said.

     

  • Video: Oshiomhole collecting signatures for Saraki’s impeachment, Sen. Melaye alleges

    Video: Oshiomhole collecting signatures for Saraki’s impeachment, Sen. Melaye alleges

     

  • Police unlock impeached Imo Deputy Governor’s office

    Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday unlocked the office of the impeached Deputy Governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere.

    Recall that the office was locked on Wednesday, few hours after the state assembly lawmakers impeached the deputy governor.

    This is to forestall the breakdown of law and order in the state.

    A journalist attached to the office of the impeached deputy governor, Iheanyi Enwerem, confirmed that the office had been unlocked.

    According to him, some policemen locked it on Wednesday, but they unlocked it on Thursday.

    He said the impeached Deputy Governor had not visited his office since the state lawmakers purportedly removed him from office despite a court order.

    Madumere had, through his media aide, on Wednesday insisted that he was still the deputy governor of the state.

    Madumere argued that there was no proof from point of law to ascertain that he had been impeached.

    He said his removal from office hours after an Owerri High Court presided over by Justice Benjamin Iheaka gave an order stopping further proceedings on his impeachment until the matter was determined by court was not known by law.

  • Benue crisis: Court stops Ortom’s impeachment

    A Makurdi High Court on Wednesday restrained the eight members of the Benue State Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment process initiated against Governor Samuel Ortom.

    The court also restrained the affected lawmakers from sitting and upheld their suspension pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

    Eight members of the state Assembly led by the impeached Speaker, Terkibir Ikyange, had, on Monday, begun impeachment process against the governor.

    Ruling on the application on orders restraining the eight members from sitting, presiding judge, Justice Theresa Igoche, also restrained the Chief Judge of Benue State from receiving or acting on any process or request issued pursuant to the purported sitting, proceedings and resolutions of 30th July, 2018 aimed at or commenced for the purpose of removing governor of the state, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

    Justice Igoche upheld the subsisting order that was earlier given by Chief Judge of the state, Justice Adam Onum, restraining the former Speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, and other former principal officers from parading as same and ordered the security agencies to vacate the premises of the Benue State House of Assembly.

    The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Gusa, applauded the ruling, saying as a law abiding government, they would always seek redress in the law courts.

    Also speaking, Sebastian Hon (SAN), who appeared on behalf of the plaintiffs alongside over 20 lawyers, described the ruling as sound and promised to abide by the orders of the court.

  • 2019: Ganduje’s deputy petitions police over alleged threat to life, impeachment

    The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar has petitioned the State Security Service and other security agents over alleged threats to his life and plots to remove him from office.

    Recall that Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Yusuf Abdullahi Atta was earlier impeached on Monday.

    In the petition, addressed to the Kano State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf, copied to the Assistant Inspector-General in Charge of Zone One and the State Director of SSS, the deputy governor, prayed for the deployment of more security operatives around him.

    Among others, he accused the state government of disbursing funds to mobilise youths from the 44 Local Government Areas of the State to protest against his continued stay in office.

    A loyalist to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the deputy governor has been at loggerheads, with the State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

  • Ganduje reacts to Kano Assembly Speaker’s impeachment

    Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said on Monday that he had no knowledge of what happened at the state’s assembly.

    Ganduje who described the episode as an internal democracy said that, such development is good for any progressive democracy.

    The Governor made the assertion at the Kano State Government House when the new speaker, Honorable Kabiru Alhassan Rurum and his principal officers paid a courtesy visit during which they pledged their loyalty to him.

    They further reaffirmed their unflinching support for his administration and reelection bid.

    According to Ganduje, “I was not aware of what was going on at the state assembly; I was informed by top members of our great party that the speaker of the house has been impeached by the members of the house.

    “As you know, there has been, and they would be different interpretations to what has happened, but one thing is certain, that is, we in Kano believe in internal democracy”

    “I urge you to embrace all those whom have lost their seats and ensure that there are no factions within the assembly members.

    “I welcome you to the state government House, your house, and I want to reassure you that there shall be synergy between the state government and the assembly for the greater development of the state”

    “For eight years I was the deputy governor, and we have been together with virtually all of you for the past sixteen years, so am familiar with the antics of the assembly and issues of internal democracy”

    “I’m happy to hear that you are solidly behind the party in the state, National level and the president particularly at this moment of trial”

    In his remarks, the Speaker, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum expressed their loyalty to the Ganduje’s administration and reaffirmed that, the assembly members would continue to work with the Governor for the peace and progress of the state.

    Rurum assures the Governor that, there shall be no defection by members of the house as efforts are been made to win over the six Kwankwansiyya loyalists to their fold.

    He further reiterated their loyalty and support for the Ganduje’s second term ambition as well as that of the president Muhammadu Buhari and also pledge their loyalty to APC and its National Chairman, Adam Oshiomhole.

  • Benue crisis: Saraki, Dogara speak on impeachment plot against Ortom

    …ask president to call police to order

    Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara have described as ” a desecration of the legislative sanctity”, the on-going situation in Benue State in which eight out of the 30 members of the State House of Assembly have commenced impeachment process against the governor and with the support of the police, the 22 other members who constitute more than two-third majority are kept away from the Assembly complex.

    In a statement jointly signed by their media aides, Saraki and Dogara also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the police to order and stop being used to achieve political purposes.

    “We have monitored closely the development in Benue State in which the impeached Speaker, Terkimbir Ikyange led seven other members to serve impeachment notice on the state Governor, Samuel Ortom while the 22 other members who constitute more than two-third majority have been prevented from having access to the chamber. We believe this is illegality and does not conform to parliamentary procedure on impeachment.

    “We also note with surprise the role of the Police in this undemocratic events in which the minority is seeking to impeach a Governor against the position of the majority. We believe it is the sacred institution of the legislature that is being desecrated and rubbished in all these negative developments.

    “The situation in Benue State House of Assembly has grave implication for the nation’s democracy and it represents a throw-back to the period of dictatorship in our country. It also represents how the Nigeria Police are being misused to achieve political end. In a statement recently, the Presidency derisively referred to an era in the past where a minority number of legislators was used to impeach Governors who were unfriendly with the Federal Government. What we are seeing in Benue now is a return to that inglorious era.

    “We believe this unlawful and unconstitutional move to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom by a minority should be condemned by all lovers of democracy, at home and abroad. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the police to order and prevent a break-down of law and order. We also call on friends of Nigeria in the international community to lend their voice in condemning the perpetration of illegalities and actions that can subvert our democracy.

    “There is already a tense atmosphere in Benue State following the recent killings. Nobody should encourage any action or move which may exacerbate the security situation in the North Central State.

    As leaders of the Federal legislature, we are ready to work with our colleagues in both chambers of the National Assembly to prevent any attempt to destroy any state legislature or use it to derail democracy”, Saraki and Dogara stated.