The Anambra State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party has petitioned the state’s House of Assembly to impeach Governor Willie Obiano for what it called constitutional breaches.
The State chairman of PDP, Prince Ken Emeakayi disclosed this to newsmen in Awka, Anambra state on Monday after a stakeholders ‘meeting of the party.
The PDP alleged that recently the governor travelled abroad and spent 30 days without transmitting a letter to that effect to the state House of Assembly as required by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The party said that when the governor returned from the overseas trip, he did not again transmit to the House of his return, a development it maintained had made the governor unfit to continue as the governor of the state.
It urged the House to commence impeachment process on Obiano for violating the constitution he swore to uphold.
Emeakayi said, “We have written to the police, DSS and other security agencies in the country to let them know that the governor is now acting illegally.
“We have duly notified the state House of Assembly in separate letters and we are calling on them to immediately commence impeachment proceedings on the governor because his offence is very clear.
“Obiano had in January, at the peak of the yuletide travelled to the US, without transmitting a letter to the House of Assembly, and stayed 30 days without his deputy acting as governor and as such not fit to continue with the task upon return. He is no longer the governor of this by this breach.”
The PDP added that for the governor to have failed to conduct local government elections in the state as required by section seven of the constitution was also a constitutional offence for impeachment.
The party added that there were plans by the governor to appoint caretaker committee leadership into the local government councils, instead of holding elections to democratize that tier of government.
Reacting, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Media, Strategic Communication and Legislative Matters, Prince Oliver Okpala described PDP’s allegation as laughable.
He said, “The present development and allegations are laughable because the person making the allegation has a case of locus standi in law to decide if he is a fit and proper person to speak on behalf of the PDP as the Chairman in Anambra State judging from the recent political developments in his party.
“Is he the fit and proper person to speak or write any letter to the State Assembly as State Chairman of the party? Which side of the party does he belongs to, the Markafi faction or the Ali Modu Sheriff faction?
“Also may we know if all the legal actions instituted by other party members challenging his position as Chairman have been resolved?
“These are fundamental issues to be resolved first before we can know who is making the allegations against the Governor; which party he represents and in which position he is speaking or writing because you know that the Markafi faction of the PDP has rejected the Court of Appeal judgement and has gone to challenge it at the Supreme Court; not until these legal issues are resolved, the position and authenticity of the allegations may not attract the attention of any legitimate organ of government.”
Source: Punch
