Why Plot To Impeach Tallen Was Aborted

JOS, Dec 12, (THEWILL) - Facts have emerged on why the plan to initiate the impeachment of Plateau State Deputy Governor, Dame Pauline Tallen failed even before it was executed.

Recall Tallen was pressured to resign as Deputy Governor when she obtained a form to run for governor of the state.

Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang had shortly after it became public knowledge that his deputy had obtained a form to run against him in the PDP gubernatorial primaries, confronted her in her office demanding a resignation.

But the Tallen has refused to throw in the towel maintaining that she was elected into the position on a joint mandate with the governor that resigning would amount to betraying the people that elected her.

THEWILL learnt that shortly after the encounter between the politicians, aides of the governor urged him to explore the impeachment option to force Tallen out of office, but the move to recruit the required number of legislators in the state House of Assembly who would execute the plot failed.

The Jang team had only four loyal legislators amongst the 23-member Assembly excluding the Speaker. It will require a two-third majority of legislators to impeach Tallen.

Jang according to our checks was confident he could pull off the impeachment plot against Tallen using legislators. He had hoped to use his influence as governor to woo some neutral legislators and thereafter encroach into the 16-legislator caucus loyal to Tallen.

The legislators were assured of his support in their primary election if they agreed to sign the impeachment notice that would have thrown Tallen out of office.

Jang’s proposal however fell flat as most of the legislators approached resisted the move on the premise that the governor had flouted many agreements in the past especially the way he has treated traditional rulers in the state who collectively backed him during the governorship election of 2007.

Legislators who were perceived neutral declined to join the wagon over worries that the move may heat up the polity and throw the state into chaos.

The impeachment plot has been officially dropped and other means are being explored to cut Tallen to size, THEWILL has confirmed.

But the 16 legislators behind the deputy have openly declared that they are against Jang’s return to the Rayfield Government House during the formal declaration of Mrs. Tallen’s governorship bid, which they all attended.

Led by the Deputy Speaker, Ibrahim Baba Hassan and Majority Leader Joe Bukar, the legislators pledged their loyalty and support for he bid.

They urged Tallen to change her campaign slogan from “change” to “substitution” saying she is a ready substitute for Jang who they say failed the state.

Pioneer PDP National Chairman, Chief Solomon Lar, who was at the declaration said the fact that 16 out of 24 legislators would defy a sitting governor and come out to support another aspirant speaks volumes about the trend of politics in the state.

Former President of National Council for Women Society, Hjaiyah Laila Dogonyaro, former Military Governor of Bauchi State, Retired Major General Chris Garba as well as former ministers and federal legislators were present at the declaration.