Amaechi, Oshiomhole Dare Jonathan Over Impeachment Allegations

Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers state and Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state have said neither the Presidency nor the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could impeach them as they did with former governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Murtala Nyako.

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The duo said they are not losing sleep over the alleged plot by the Presidency to push for their impeachment, Punch reports.

Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Chief Tony Okocha, Gov. Amaechi said he and his followers were aware of the threat of impeachment in order to force him back to the PDP, but it would not work as twenty-five PDP Assembly members have all defected formerly to the APC, thereby foreclosing any thought of his (Amaechi) removal as the state governor.

Amaechi who described the threat as a dull dream and a wild goose chase, said he would not quit politics as a result of the threat to impeach him or force him to join the PDP, and that his political future is in the hands of God and the people of the state.

He said, “People are defecting enmasse to APC. So, they need to come and break our ranks here before they can achieve their plan. The threat to impeach Amaechi so that he will return to the PDP will not work; it is wishy-washy, it is a dull dream.”

In Edo state, Gov. Oshiomhole who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, said he was popularly elected by the overwhelming majority of Edo people, while also accusing the PDP of impunity which was fast eroding democratic principles in the country.

He said, “The thought of impeachment does not cross our hearts. First, what would be the rationale? Secondly, the APC has majority in the Assembly. Thirdly, the governor is on ground. Fourthly, he is performing. We are not losing sleep over that because we have capacity for decency when it comes to real issues of political engagement.”

Following the impeachment of Gov. Nyako, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had at a press conference alleged that Jonathan and the PDP were out to remove the governors of Edo, Nasarawa, Osun, Borno and Rivers states. Reports surfaced on Monday, July 14, that Nasarawa State House of Assembly had commenced impeachment proceedings against Gov. Al-Makura.

On 26 April 2011, Amaechi was re-elected governor of Rivers state on the platform of the People’s People’s Democratic Party for a second term but he defected to the All Progressives Congress on 27 November 2013.

His Edo state counterpart, Adams Oshiomhole ran for Governor of Edo State under the Action Congress Party, with which his Labour Party had entered a strategic alliance in April 2007. Oserheimen Osunbor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner but the AC contested the election on the basis of various irregularities and on 20 March 2008, an Edo State election tribunal nullified the election of Oserheimen Osunbor and declared Oshiomhole the winner. In 2012, he was elected to a second term, winning the elections in a massive landslide.