Abok with the other 12 lawmakers
Plateau Assembly’s ding-dong leadership quagmire persists as Abok faction refutes impeachment, rejects Sanda
12 Plateau lawmakers loyal to the purportedly impeached Speaker Nuhu Abok, have refuted claims by the other faction led by the “new speaker” Yakubu Sanda, stressing that due process was not followed in the purported impeachment of Abok.
Periscope International recalls that Sanda’s faction had on Thursday at a press conference in Jos addressed by the Majority Leader and lawmaker representing Mikang Constituency, Daniel Naalong, had claimed that due process was followed in the purported impeachment of Abok.
Reacting to the claim, however, the Abok faction comprising 12 lawmakers out of the Assembly’s 24 members in a statement on Friday debunked the claims, arguing that the so-called impeachment of Abok failed to meet the requirements as stipulated in the Constitution.
They contended that Section 92(2c) (c) stipulates that for the speaker to be removed from office by a resolution of the Assembly, it must be carried out by the votes of “not less than two-thirds majority of the members of the entire House sitting.”
They further stressed that the “Votes of not less than two-third majority. Resolution for removal of presiding officers in Plateau State House of Assembly shall be by sixteen Honourable Members during plenary.”
Abok’s loyalists also noted that the “Standing Orders of Plateau House of Assembly, 2021- Order 7 Rule 14 (biii) – stipulates that “Where there is an allegation against the speaker that the allegation must first be investigated, and an ad-hoc Committee comprising Members of all the political parties represented in the House shall be constituted to investigate the allegation.”
The Abok faction further contended that “Order 7 Rule 14 (biv) – stipulates that The Committee so constituted, shall request the holder of the office under investigation to respond in writing and such response shall form part of the Report of the Committee”
They said that such allegations must be proved by the following documentary evidences:
1. Videos
2. Standing orders, 2021
3. CFRN, 1999 As altered
4. Fund Management Law
5. Relevant Votes and proceedings
6. Minutes of Funds Management Committee meeting
7. Hansard
The factional lawmakers emphasized thus:
“We the undersigned wonder why Hon. Naanlong Daniel Gapyil struggles to explain due process for the removal of presiding officers in State Houses of Assembly as enshrined in Section 92(2c) of the 1999 CFRN as altered.
“We want the general public to be aware that Hon. Naanlong Daniel Gapyil was privileged to undergo a series of intensive Legislative trainings on House Rules and procedures of Legislative Business and was the custodian of House Rules and Business because of his Former position as Chairman, Rules, Business, Inter-Governmental and Inter-Parliamentary Committee.
“Beloved Press Team and public, from this attached video, you can conduct simple investigation on the number of people that conducted the purported and botched impeachment of Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba on 28th October, 2021.
“This evidence-based video is enough to clarify the issue of numbers and procedures for removal of presiding officers. We still condemn this coup on the Plateau and Bad Legislative practice.
“It could be recalled that Hon. Naanlong Daniel Gapyil moved a motion for a vote of confidence on Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba in December, 2019 and again in July, 2021. We deemed it fit to let the general public know that if there were dictatorial tendencies, gross incompetence, financial mismanagement and other false allegations as raised by Mr. Naanlong Gapyil then he wouldn’t have moved these votes of confidence.
“We wish to also inform the public that it was Hon. Naanlong Gapyil that moved a motion for the House to go for one month recess from August to September, 2021 after passing a vote of confidence on Mr. Speaker in the plenary before the recess.
“Let’s put the record straight that Plateau State House of Assembly Fund Management Law provided that the Funds Management Committee sits quarterly, we still wonder why Hon. Naanlong and cohorts did not raise allegations on financial misappropriation for the past quarters that the Committee has been meeting.
“We want to add that the Committee held its last meeting in August, 2021 and Hon. Naanlong Daniel Gapyil was in attendance as a Member of the Committee. Note that the Fund Management Committee replaced the Finance and General Purpose Committee (F&GPC).
“We shall hold Hon. Naanlong Gapyil responsible to explain the issue of the fake Mace in PLHA in connection to their failed impeachment that took place at 0600hrs on 28th October, 2021 with a borrowed Mace from a LGC..
“We are determined to protect PLHA. We want to give the general public notice that there is a calculated attempt to vandalize PLHA by some paid hoodlums with the intention to use it as an excuse to provide another venue for plenary that cannot be accessed by the twelve of us.
“The illegal Speaker under the influence of Government has insisted on holding plenary. We shall soon draw the attention of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the World Bank to know that due process is not being followed in the 2022 Plateau State Government Budget.
“We want to appreciate the Leaders of democracy in Nigeria for condemning in totality the intended rape of democracy in the Plateau State House of Assembly. We say kudos to Distinguished Senator Ahmed Lawan(Senate President), Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki, Distinguished Senator Jonah David Jang, Distinguished Senator I. D. Gyang, Distinguished Senator Gabriel Suswan, Representative Beni Lar and Representative Musa Bagos.
“Bravo to the Conference of Speakers of State Legislators, Lagos State House of Assembly, PIDAN, YIAGA Africa, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Religious Leaders, Traditional Leaders and Members of the public. Your labour to protect democracy will never go in vain.
“We still recognize Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba as our committed and dedicated Speaker. We appeal to the Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command to restore the Security Aides to Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba.
“We still appeal to AIG in charge of Zone 4 to unseal the House to enable us continue our Legislative Business under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba,” the lawmakers concluded.
The statement was signed by the 12 factional lawmakers as follows:
1. Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba (APC) – Speaker – Jos East
2. Hon. Peter Ibrahim Gyendeng (PDP) – Minority Leader – Barkin Ladi
3. Hon. Philip Peter Dasun (APC) – Deputy Majority Leader – Pankshin North
4. Hon. Sohchang Zingtim (PDP) – Minority Whip – Langtang South
5. Hon. (Mrs.) Esther Simi Dusu (PDP) – Jos North West
6. Hon. (Dr.) Bala Ndat Fwangje (PDP) – Mangu South
7. Hon. Musa Agah Avia (PDP) – Rukuba Irigwe
8. Hon. (Barr) Henry Longs (APC) – Pankshin South
9. Hon. Fom D. Gwottson (PDP) – Jos South
10. Hon. Timothy Dantong (PDP) – Riyom
11. Hon. Pirfa Jingfa Tyem (PDP) – Langtang North – North
12. Daniel, Nanbol Listick (PDP) – Langtang North – Central.
It’s a shame that some people we fought for and stood by at great pains, threats and refusal of inducements, based on our belief in the rule of law, are today perpetrating worse acts of impunity against democracy and the rule of law. They are writing their names in the register of infamy as enemies of democracy and their generations would read of their atrocities. They will become history in a few years. Where are the ‘Pharaohs’ of yesterday today?