By Blessing Obam, JKNMedia Reporter
THE ONGOING political tension in Rivers State has reached a boiling point as the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) asserts that the 27 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in the state’s House of Assembly lack the legal standing to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Mr. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, emphasized this stance during a press briefing held on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ologunagba cited constitutional provisions, particularly Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, to bolster the PDP’s argument. According to this section, lawmakers who defect from the party on whose platform they were elected automatically vacate their seats, pointing out that since the APC lawmakers had defected from the PDP, the party under which they were elected, they no longer hold legitimate seats in the House of Assembly.
“The directive by the state APC chapter for the lawmakers to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor is futile,” Ologunagba stated unequivocally.
Furthermore, Ologunagba advised the APC to acknowledge the PDP’s stronghold in Rivers State, emphasizing that the populace remains staunchly loyal to the party.
In a contrasting perspective, The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers State Chapter, endorsed the call for Governor Fubara’s impeachment, labeling it a necessary step to uphold democracy and the rule of law.
At a press conference in Port Harcourt, Mr. Allwell Ihunda, the ALGON Chairman, who doubles as the Chairman of the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, voiced support from 21 local government chairmen for the impeachment proceedings.
Ihunda cited alleged actions by the governor, including withholding statutory allocations to local government councils in April and circumventing established financial protocols, as grounds for impeachment.
“The governor’s actions amount to executive rascality and pose a threat to democracy,” Ihunda asserted.
He further accused Governor Fubara of unconstitutional directives, such as demanding salary vouchers and overheads of civil servants be submitted directly to his office, bypassing the due process outlined in the Constitution.
Concluding his address, Ihunda urged the House of Assembly to intervene and rein in what he perceives as the governor’s overreach, asserting that such actions are imperative to safeguarding democracy within the state.
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