Members of Kogi State House of Assembly has played down the calls for Governor Yahaya Bello’s impeachment by some members of Kogi State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Senator Dino Melaye over allegations of double registration for voters card.
At a press briefing in Lokoja today, the lawmakers, led by the Majority Leader, Hon. Kolawole Matthew, said they cannot be coerced to go against the Nigerian constitution which retrained them from investigating electoral process.
The lawmakers noted that the Kogi State House of Assembly is not a robotic institution that can be unduly influenced by external bodies.
Kolawole observed that the recent call by Senator Melaye for the impeachment proceeding against the Governor is an insult to the constitution. According to him, the issue of alleged irregular registration of Alhaji Yahaya bello does not lie in the hands of the assembly to act upon.
“It is only the electoral activities at the local government level that falls within our jurisdiction. Even at that, INEC still takes care of the registration of voters for council elections. The qualification for registration under the electoral act, 2010 (as amended) section 12 (2) & (3) to our mind does not give any power unto this honourable House to act. This House does not possess judicial powers”, he said.
Member representing Ankpa I state constituency, Hon Ahmed Mohammed said the laws of the land is explicit on why and when a state governor can be removed from office.
“Section 188 (2) of the 1999 Nigeria constitution, as amended, is very instructive. In the constitutional democracy which we are practicing, it is expected of us to operate in tune with the letters and spirit of the constitution. The emphasis of the above mentioned provision of our supreme law of the land is “gross misconduct in performing the functions of the office of a governor. Lawmakers can only begin impeachment process when case of gross misconduct is established against the executive”, he said.
Hon. Bello Hassan Balogun representing Ajaokuta constituency said the recent statement credited to Senator Melaye is a mockery of the State Assembly and the entire people of Kogi State.
