CSOs to challenge removal of Plateau speaker in court

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the auspices of Not Too Young To Run Movement have vowed to challenge the purported impeachment of the Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Ayuba Abok, in court.

Abok Ayuba

“This act of legislative rascality is intolerable and highly condemnable.” Itodo said.

Describing the impeachment process as an unlawful sitting of the house, he maintained that reports indicated that the speaker’s removal initiated by his deputy, Sale Yipmong, was executed under questionable circumstances.

According to Itodo, the sitting of the house was held before the official time of plenary, which is 9.00am. He lamented the securing of the assembly’s entrance by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police to grant access to eight members who executed the impeachment.

His words: “It is important to note that the House of Assembly is a creation of the constitution and must, in all instances, be seen to act in consonance and conformity with the constitution.

“The purported impeachment of Abok violates the procedure prescribed by the constitution for the impeachment of a duly elected Speaker of a House of Assembly. Section 92(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution provides that a speaker can only be removed from office by a resolution or votes of not less than two-third majority of members of the House of Assembly.”

The co-convener, Hamzat Lawal, said: “The movement calls on the President to direct security agencies to restore order in the House and ensure that Abok is accorded full legal and security protection to preside over the legislative business of the house without intimidation and interference.

“The eight legislators and their benefactors must be held to account for subverting a constituted authority and undermining the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”