Eight out of 30 lawmakers in Benue State House of Assembly have served an impeachment notice on Governor Samuel Ortom.
The eight lawmakers have also taken over the premises of the state parliament with the support of the police, Tahav Agerzua, a spokesperson for Mr Ortom told PREMIUM TIMES at 10:00 a.m. Monday.
“They have taken over the House of Assembly and served the governor an impeachment notice despite a court order forbidding them from doing so,” Mr Agerzua said by telephone.
Mr Agerzua said George Akume, a former governor and an APC senator from Benue State, was the one who brought police officers from Abuja to attempt to use eight lawmakers to impeach a governor in a House of 30 lawmakers.
The crisis comes a few days after Mr Orton defected from the APC to the PDP.
It also came days after 23 PDP lawmakers impeached the House Speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, on allegations that he was not carrying other members along in legislative activities.
Mr Ikyange, who remained in the APC despite recent mass defection of his colleagues to the PDP, was said to have been impeached because he was no longer in the majority party.
Some of the majority House members who impeached the Speaker insisted it had nothing to do with his status as a minority lawmaker.
Last week, PDP lawmakers said they were compelled to use the Government House in Makurdi to conduct legislative businesses after security agencies locked the parliament.
A detachment of heavily armed policemen has allegedly shutdown the Benue state House of Assembly. The policemen blocked the entrance to the Assembly complex, denying workers access.
Meanwyouths from Benue state have, in the early hours of Monday, as at 5:am, trooped en masse to block the Benue Assembly complex over what they claimed was plots by some politicians loyal to the All Progressives Congress, APC, led Federal government to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom who has dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Reports indicate that the police may have been deployed to restore order. Reports not yet very clear claim the security personnel are currently in a clash with the Benue youths over the alleged invasion of State’s Assembly complex as well as the planned plot to impeach the Governor. Reports also claim the police team is firing tear gas to disperse the youths.
Recall that Governor Ortom had given reasons as to why he dumped the APC to include that his people, the Benue state youths, had forced him to leave the party of cease to be their governor. Details soon… Related No plot to impeach Ortom—Benue govt No plot to impeach Ortom—Benue govt July 12, 2018 Ortom/Akume rift: Security personnel cordon off Benue Assembly Ortom/Akume rift: Security personnel cordon off Benue Assembly July 11, 2018 APC, Police plotting to Impeach Fayose - PDP APC, Police plotting to Impeach Fayose - PDP July 26, 2018
Source: Naija.ng
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