Begin Akeredolu’s Impeachment Process – PDP To Ondo Assembly

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Ondo State House of Assembly to commence impeachment process against Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Naija News has learned.

Ondo PDP said the governor has violated some provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, therefore, the Ondo Assembly should set up a Panel to look into Akeredolu’s medical status.

Recall that on Tuesday, the Ondo PDP gave Akeredolu a 24-hour ultimatum to address the people of the state and return to his office in Akure, or resign from office.

Akeredolu, since his return from his medical trip to Germany, has been running Ondo State affairs from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

However, the Ondo PDP, in a statement on Thursday morning, has asked the state assembly to consider the interest of the people and begin an impeachment of Akeredolu.

The Spokesman for the Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, in the statement, said government activities had been grounded and the state on auto-pilot for nearly six months due to Akeredolu’s ill health.

According to him: “Unfortunately, rather than tell the citizens the truth, most of Akeredolu’s handlers have resorted to insulting the sensibilities of the people by making a public show of their ignorance.

“The Constitution envisaged that it is possible for a State Governor to be ill or incapacitated as it is the case with Akeredolu now and therefore made safeguards.

“Section 193(2) states expressly that “the Governor of a state shall hold regular meetings with the Deputy Governor and all Commissioners of the Government of the State for the purposes of –
a. Determine the general direction of policies of the state,” amongst other provisions.

“When was the last time Akeredolu held a State Executive Council meeting?

“It is not a crime to be ill, but that will not be reason an entire state must be brought to her knees.

“Our party wishes to urge the Governor’s aides to stop ridiculing themselves by defending the indefensible and standing logic on its head.”

Meanwhile, the Ondo Assembly has responded to the call for the impeachment of the governor, saying the PDP should be ignored because the governor, despite managing the state’s affairs from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, is doing his constitutional duties and has not breached any aspect of the Constitution.

According to The Nation, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Hon Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, pointed out that the PDP was only making a fuss because they lacked the knowledge of the duties of a governor.

Questioning the PDP if they knew or not whether the State Executive Council meeting held, Ogunmolasuyi argued that if the governor was not working, how would salaries and clearing of backlog of salary arrears be possible, and how would projects be ongoing across the state.

The Ondo lawmaker added, “The Governor is doing his duties. Everything is going on well in the state. We have met with the Governor and all those that want to meet with him.

“If the Governor is not doing what he supposed to do, we will question him. He has signed all bills brought before him. What we know is that the PDP is a dead party. They cannot stipulate the duties of a Governor.”