Reps Move To Intervene In Kogi Assembly Crisis

ABUJA, October 17, (THEWILL) - The House of Representatives Wednesday set up a committee to visit Lokoja, the Kogi State capital in order to resolve the crisis that led to the impeachment of the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Bello and 10 principal officers.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Ossai Nicolas Ossai (PDP, Delta), condemning the action.

The arbitration committee is led by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Ahmed Muktar Mohammed (PDP, Niger).

Other members of the committee are Honourables Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, Sokonte Davies, Pally Eriase, Nkem Abonta, Ali Ahmad and Jagaba Adams Jagaba.

While leading debate on the motion, Ossai noted that the said impeachment was carried out by 12 out of the 26 member Assembly which according to him was a violation of the constitution since they did not have 2/3rd majority as required by law.

He maintained that item 68 of the exclusive legislative list and section 11 of the 1999 constitution empowers the National Assembly to take over the function of any state Assembly if it fails to perform its duties.

According to him, section 92 also requires that the Speaker can only be impeached by 2/3rd majority of the members.

The motion was not debated as the rules and business committee chairman, Hon. Albert Tsokwa (PDP, Taraba) argued that it will not be appropriate to subject it to debate since "we are trying to be an arbiter so we can't say who is wrong or right".

Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha who presided at the plenary consequently ruled in line with the submission.