President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Professor Itse Sagay has said the attempt by eight APC lawmakers to remove Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Monday is ‘a joke.’
Amidst ongoing crisis in the State House of Assembly, eight lawmakers had on Monday served an impeachment notice to Ortom.
Sagay, the Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) said the lawmakers lacked the number to set off the process of impeachment against a sitting governor.
According to him, the lawmakers will first need one-third of the members of the House to sign a document of intention to impeach, which after two weeks must be signed by two-thirds of the House.
“Eight out of 30 lawmakers, the number is not enough. They cannot successfully impeach the governor if they don’t increase their number.
“They cannot commence proceedings because they need one-third of the members to sign a document of intention to impeach, which after two weeks, must be signed by two-thirds of the House. So, presently they are not enough to kick off the process,” he told newsmen on Monday.
Governor Ortom on Monday through his Chief Press Secretary, Akase Terver said he was still the governor of the state, adding that the lawmakers lacked the constitutional powers to remove him from office.
