“Impeached” Plateau Assembly Speaker fights back, holds plenary, suspends “rebellious” 6 members
The purported impeachment on Thursday morning of Plateau House of Assembly Speaker Ayuba Abok, seems to have boomeranged as the speaker has bared his fangs, and held plenary session with 14 members loyal to him out of 24 and announced the suspension of six members who took part in his alleged impeachment, including the new speaker.
According to a document emanating from the proceedings of the 14 House members’ sitting, the members made the resolution following a motion that was moved by Hon. Philip Dasun,seconded by the Minority Leader, Peter Gyendeng and passed by them at the sitting.
The suspended members are:
1. Hon. Naanlong Daniel Gapyil from Mikang Constituency.
2. Hon. Yakubu Sanda from Pengana Constituency.
3. Rt. Hon. Saleh Shehu Yipmwang from Dengi Constituency
4. Rt. Hon. Baba Hassan Ibrahim from Jos North North Constituency
5. Hon. Eric Dakogol from Quanpan North
6. Hon. Abubakar Mohammed Ballo Quanpan South.
Dasun’s motion was for the suspension of the 6 Members who breached the procedures of the House. and for them to face The House Committee on Judiciary, Ethics and Privileges.
It added that House passed another vote of confidence on Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba as the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly at the sitting.
The sitting which was held in an undisclosed location in Zawan, Jos South LGA, with the mace fully on display, was attended by select journalists.
Briefing journalists shortly after the sitting , the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Philip Dasun said, “The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes a clear provision for the impeachment of the Speaker, it requires a 2/3 majority, we are 24, we are supposed to have a minimum of 16 members to sign and affirm the impeachment of the Speaker.
“To our greatest surprise, we were in the House today very early in the morning, we got an information that there was an attempt to impeach our Speaker. I went and I found seven people and I was the eighth person before the rest came. We are not in agreement with what happened, the Governor is a lawyer, he knows the constitution, he will not accept that illegal process, if he does, it is left for him to battle with his profession.”
The proceedings reads as follows:
Plateau House of Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria*
_4th Republic_
_9th Assembly_
_3rd Session_
During the Plenary of 9th Assembly on 28.10.2021, by 2pm
Motion made and Question proposed: That Hon. Philip Dasun do now move his motion for suspension of Honourble Members that breached the procedures of the House.
Question put and agreed to
Resolved in the affirmative
The six Honourble Members suspended will face Committee on Judiciary, Ethics and Privileges. They are
1. Hon. Naanlong Daniel Gapyil from Mikang Constituency.
2. Hon. Yakubu Sanda from Pengana Constituency.
3. Rt. Hon. Saleh Shehu Yipmwang from Dengi Constituency
4. Rt. Hon. Baba Hassan Ibrahim from Jos North North Constituency
5. Hon. Eric Dakogol from Quanpan North
6. Hon. Abubakar Mohammed Ballo Quanpan South
The House passed another vote of confidence on Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba the Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly
After the plenary, the House addressed the press. Link of press conference shall be shared in due time
Twelve Honourable Members were at the plenary with two apologies making a total of fourteen in attendance in line with House Rule
