IMPEACHMENT SAGA: EMBATTLED SPEAKER PRESIDES OVER HOUSE, SUSPENDS 6 MEMBERS

Controversy has continued over the supposed impeachment of the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Abok Ayuba, by 8 members earlier on Thursday morning, as the embattled Speaker presided over a sitting of the assembly held outside the assembly complex.

Thirteen other members present at the sitting passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker.

Also, during the sitting 6 members who participated in what the lawmakers described as “illegal exercise” were suspended.

Recalls that 8 members of the 24 legislature, allegedly impeached Hon. Ayuba in the early hours of Thursday, and replaced him with Yakubu Sanda (APC, Pengana Constituency).

At the sitting, Deputy Majority Leader, Philip Dasun, (APC, Pankshin South) moved the motion for the suspension of the six of the eight members that carried out what he described as an illegal impeachment.

Dasun said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Section 92, subsection 2C has stipulated a clear procedure on how to impeach a speaker or a deputy speaker.

The Deputy Majority Leader who is also the House Committee Chairman on Information and Communication said, “None of the procedures was followed by the members who allegedly impeached the speaker.

“Members did not form a quorum to sit and they did not have a two-thirds majority required by law to impeach a speaker.

“They went against Section 92(2c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Order 7 rule 14 of Standing Orders of the Plateau State House of Assembly”, he explained.

“I, therefore, move that the six members that carried out the illegality be suspended till further notice.

“They include; Hon. Baba Hassan (APC, Jos North-North), Hon. Saleh Yipmong (APC, Dengi), Hon. Daniel Naanlong (APC, Mikang), Hon. Eric Dakogol (APC, Quanpan North), Hon. Mohammed Ballo (APC, Quanpan South) and Yakubu Sanda (APC, Pengana)”.

Dasun’s motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Peter Gyendeng, (PDP, Barkin Ladi).

Dasun also moved a motion of vote confidence to be passed on Abok Ayuba as the authentic Speaker of the 9th State House Assembly.