Posted by This Day on
Monday's reversal of the impeachment of Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Dr Chris Ekpeyong, by the State House of Assembly has elicited mixed reactions.
Monday's reversal of the impeachment of Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Dr Chris Ekpeyong, by the State House of Assembly has elicited mixed reactions.
While Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Ahmadu Ali, commended the legislators for reversing their earlier action, Lagos Lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), and human rights activist, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti said the Assembly had no constitutional right to reverse the impeachment.
Ali's Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Theophilus Abbah, said in an interview that the action was another positive step for the party.
``What the Akwa Ibom lawmakers did is a positive development, and it means members' respect for the supremacy of the party," he said.
He said the PDP respects the independence of the legislature, and that the decision of the lawmakers to impeach Ekpenyong was constitutional.
``The action was constitutional, hence there was no arm twisting by anybody," he said, adding that the reversal of the action was on the legislators' volition.
However, Human rights crusader, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, has said the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly had no constitutional rights to reverse the impeachment.
He said ``the state House of Assembly, having acted according to section 188 to impeach the deputy governor has no constitutional power to turn it to resignation.'' Fawehinmi said.
He said he would be willing to offer free legal service to any indigene of Akwa Ibom State who was ready to challenge the action. ``I am ashamed at the action of the Akwa Ibom legislators,'' Fawehinmi said, adding that their action remain illegal and should be challenged in the interest of democracy.
Also speaking on the issue, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, a human rights activist said the reversal was ``a bastardisation of the political system,'' expressing the hope that someone would challenge the development.
He said if it was left to go unchallenged, it may create big problems for the nation's democracy in future.