Governor Ortom Speaks Amid Impeachment Saga, Explains Why Notice Is Null, Void

[Edoman]

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has reacted to the report of the impeachment notice served him by eight meembers of the State’s House of Assembly on Monday.

Crisis in the State House of Assembly took a new turn on Monday as eight lawmakers served an impeachment notice on the governor.

The lawmakers, Adanyi Benjamin, Terhemba Chabo, Benjamin Nungwa, Bem Mngutyo, Adams Okloho, James Okefe and Nick Eworo were among members that moved for the governor’s impeachment.

The plot was coordinated by Terkimbi Ikyange who was removed as speaker of the Assembly last week.

Speaking to DAILY POST on the development through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, Ortom said he was still the governor of the State, adding that the lawmakers lack the constitutional powers to remove him from office.

He said, “Ortom is still the Chief Executive of the State. You can’t just impeach a Governor in a flash. You have to go through all the legal and constitutional processes.

“They have not been able to form a quorum, so it is not possible. Only eight people served the governor the notice, even at that, 2 other members who were part of the cangaroo sitting were on the side of the governor, so how can anybody call that an impeachment notice. It’s laughable and must be ignored completely.

“And for the record, there is a court injunction restricting the impeached Speaker from parading himself as the Speaker of the House and that court injunction has not been vacated.

“He has been suspended for 6 months, he doesn’t have any constitutional right to go back to that Assembly.

“He has done nothing to vacate that injunction so whatever he did stands null and void.

https://naijaroko.com/2018/07/30/governo...id-3/amp/?

[Edoman]

@POLITICSNGR

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 aides in charge of media, Saraki and Dogara also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the police to order and stop them being used to achieving 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 event 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.

https://politicsngr.com/breaking-saraki-dogara-react-ortoms-impeachment-issue-joint-statement/

[Edoman]

@POLITICSNGR

PoliticsNGR has gotten the names of APC lawmakers in the Benue state house of assembly responsible for Governor Samuel Ortom's impeachment earlier today.

It was gathered that the plot was coordinated by Terkimbi Ikyange, the speaker of the assembly that was impeached last week.

The names of the lawmakers are;

Terhemba Chabo

Benjamin Nungwa

Bem Mngutyo

Adams Okloho,

James Okefe

Adanyi Benjamin

Nick Eworo

https://politicsngr.com/names-apc-lawmakers-impeached-gov-ortom-full-list/

[Edoman]

Press Statement:

ORTOM’S PURPORTED IMPEACHMENT, A NULLITY - Senator Mark

"The Oracle Has Spoken"

Immediate past President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has described the purported impeachment of the governor of Benue State Dr. Samuel Ortom as null and void.

Reacting to the development in Benue state today, Senator Mark said the alleged impeachment of governor Ortom by eight out of the 30 members House of Assembly is at best an exercise in futility.

According to Mark: “it is unconstitutional and devoid of any known legislative practices and procedures.

“I will advice members of the Benue state House of Assembly to be guided by the constitution and legislative rules and procedures. They should not engage in any act that could undermine the established tenet of democracy.

“The action of some members of Benue state House of Assembly violates section 188(2) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which requires that a Notice of Impeachment has to be supported by at least one third of the members of the House to be valid. This is obviously not the case here.

“What is expected of the law makers is a collaborative effort with executive arm of state government to provide the needed dividend of democracy to the people of Benue state.”

“They should remember that the interest and welfare of the people of Benue state is paramount. Anything less would be a disservice to the people they swore to serve.”

Senator Mark however advised the governor not to be distracted by the development but remain focus and steadfast in the discharge of his duties.

The former Senate President implored the people of Benue state to remain calm and law-abiding just as he counseled security operatives to maintain law and order objectively.

Signed:

Paul Mumeh
Media Assistant to Senator David Mark