The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday denounced the unfolding political drama in Benue State particularly the serving of impeachment notice on the state governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, by eight members of the state House of Assembly.
PDP said the act was a ploy by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to scare away Nigerians, including state governors and legislators, desirous of joining the party.
The party’s position which is contained in a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday accused President Muhammadu Buhari, APC national chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the immediate past governor of the state, Senator George Akume, of being the brains behind the plot.
The party, while urging its members to remain steadfast, assuring that “no amount of
intimidation, harassment and assault on processes would suppress the freedom of choice eminently guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), however, called “on the Nigerian public, the civil society organizations and international community to note the series of plots and deliberate attempts by the Buhari-led APC Federal Government to cause mayhem in a state that is struggling to recover from a spate of killings and bloodletting.”
“This misadventure is dead on arrival and again demonstrates the desperation of this failed APC Federal Government,” PDP said.
Below is the full statement
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE NWC HELD ON
MONDAY 30th JULY, 2018
1. NWC considered unfolding developments and issues happening in Benue
State, particularly as they concern the State House of Assembly and the
stability of elected Government.
2. The NWC condemns in its entirely the purported sitting of eight APC
members including the impeached and suspended Speaker; (in a 30 member
House) wherein they illegally claimed to have served an impeachment
notice on the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom. PDP also
condemns the use of the EFCC and DSS to harass and intimidate officials
of the Benue State Government.
3. We note the roles played by the factional Chairman of the APC, Adams
Oshiomhole, President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government and Sen.
George Akume in encouraging lawless acts and anarchy in Benue State.
4. Party States that the actions and opinions expressed by Oshiomole on
the decamping of Governor Ortom to the PDP as well as the deployment of
Policemen by the Buhari-led Federal Government to force the purported
issuance of illegal impeachment notice on the Governor are acts intended
to precipitate crisis for declaration of state of emergency in Benue.
5. It is on record that the erstwhile Speaker had been impeached,
suspended and restrained by a court of competent jurisdiction from
parading himself as Speaker.
6. In spite of this, it is shocking that no fewer than 300 Policemen
were alleged to have escorted the impeached Speaker to the State House
of Assembly to initiate a disgraceful and manifestly illegal process.
7. Our Party warns against deliberate acts which were maliciously
designed to truncate democracy by employing underhand tactics to achieve
what is inconceivable in a democracy.
8. The Party calls on the Nigerian Public, the civil society
organizations and International Community to note the series of plots
and deliberate attempts by the Buhari-led APC Federal Government to
cause mayhem in a State that is struggling to recover from a spate of
killings and bloodletting.
9. We are aware that these plots were designed to scare away Nigerians,
Including State Governors and Legislators, who are desirous of rallying
with the PDP to rescue our nation from the misgovemance of the Buhari
regime.
10. However, Party urges members to remain steadfast as no amount of
intimidation, harassment and assault on processes would suppress the
freedom of choice eminently guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as
amended). This misadventure is dead on arrival and again demonstrates
the desperation of this failed APC Federal Government.
11. PDP therefore urges its members, particularly in Benue State, to
rise in defense of their rights and our hard earned democracy.