Al-Makura accuses PDP of plotting to impeach him

The Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Al-Makura, has accused the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, of complicity in the impeachment moves against him. Mr. Al-Makura, an All Progressives Congress, APC, governor, stated this in Jos, on Wednesday, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Abdulahamid Kwarra. According to the governor’s spokesperson, there have been several attempts by the State Assembly to impeach the governor. “There have been eight impeachment attempts on Governor Tanko Umaru Almakura, the current one ongoing is the ninth,” he said. According to Mr. Kwarra, the Nasarawa Assembly, which was on recess to resume on August 12, hurriedly resumed a special session to begin an impeachment move against the governor. The Assembly consists of 20 PDP lawmakers and 4 APC lawmakers. On Monday, the Assemly asked its clerk to serve the governor with the impeachment notice. Mr. Kwarra said it was not true that the governor resisted being served with the impeachment notice as directed by the State Assembly on Monday. “It not true, the governor has been in the office since Monday. He performed his legitimate duties, we even addressed the media on state matters,” he said. The Clerk of the House of Assembly had on Tuesday said he went twice to the Government House to serve the governor with the impeachment notice but was not allowed access to the governor at the gate by security agents. The clerk said he was told the governor was not on seat at the time of his visit. But Mr. Kwarra said the governor is accessible. “The clerk knows the procedure to see the governor. We have been in the office since Monday. How can he say he was not allowed access to the governor,” he said. “If he claims he was not allowed access to the governor, that should be his business with the security, how does that concern the governor? “I can assure you that the governor has been in the office since Monday carrying out his functions accordingly. We have not received any notice of impeachment, by the time it comes as has been speculated, we shall respond appropriately,” Mr. Kwarra said. He said moves to impeach Governor Al-Makura was embarked upon by the PDP. Mr. Kwarra, citing the impeachment of Murtala Nyako as governor of Adamawa State, alleged that the PDP was on a mission to wipe out the APC governors. “What happen in Adamawa state yesterday, (Tuesday) was an illegality, the lawlessness exhibited by the legislature in that state could amount to anarchy. I foresee a situation where the impeachment against Murtala Nyako would be reversed because the proper procedure was not followed.” He alleged that the PDP intends to destabilise APC controlled states before the 2015 elections.