Al-Makura Impeachment Plot: Police storm Nasarawa Assembly

Muhammad Ahmad

Tanko Al-Makura, governor of nasarawa state

Some lawmakers are allegedly plotting to impeach the state governor.
Over 50 mobile police officers were on Monday morning stationed at the premises of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
Among the police officers are anti- bomb experts who were seen moving around the premises while over 12 police officers were seen in the Assembly chambers.
The Nasarawa State Police Commissioner, Umar Shehu, who visited the Assembly Complex at about 8.45 a.m., directed his officers to screen all those going into the premises.
The commissioner also asked the Clerk of Assembly, Maikeffi Ego, to station an official to identify staff of the assembly to the security operatives at the gate.
When PREMIUM TIMES asked for details of the conversation between both men, the clerk said, “I only met the commissioner of police here as you can see; but there is no problem.”
Although the lawmakers have not made any official statement on the deployment of the troops, the Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Information, Baba Ibaku, had told journalists last week, after a 5-hour lawmakers’ meeting, to come on Monday to find out the outcome of the meeting.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that 21 of the 24 members of the state assembly have signed an impeachment notice on Governor Umar Al-Makura that could be served on him today (Monday).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 19 members in the Assembly while the All progressive Congress (APC) has 5 members.
Sources in the Assembly told PREMIUM TIMES that the police officers were drafted to avoid past experience where armed youth invaded the assembly when the house attempted to scrutinize the executive.
Though the executive arm has not made any statement on the rumoured impeachment notice, the Secretary to the State Government, Zainab Abdulmumini, on Sunday night emailed a statement to journalists accepting the resignation of the Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs to the governor, Hajara Danyaro, and the Managing Director of the state transport fleet, Philip Iyakwari.
The Assembly, which has been having a turbulent time with the executive, had few months ago directed Mr. Al-Makura, to sack the two political appointees for misconduct.