THE impeachment notice served on Governor Martin Elechi by the state House of Assembly last weekend is provoking different reactions in the sharply divergent political spectrum in the once placid state.

By Peter Okutu

After the defection by loyalists of the governor from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to Labour Party, the polity in Ebonyi became divided into two interest groups; one led by the PDP governorship candidate, Engr. Dave Umahi, the other led by Governor Elechi. Elechi remains the leader of the defectors given the fact that the LP governorship candidate, Sir Edward Nkwegu continues to ride in the shadow of the governor.

Some of the anger of those in PDP was that Governor Elechi remained unrepentant in his bid to use the LP to destroy the party that provided him with the platform of being a two term Governor. The governor’s move followed his pitiable failure in stopping his once loyal deputy, Umahi from grabbing the PDP governorship ticket of the PDP.

His rejection of Umahi was worsened by his trenchant opposition to the senatorial ambition of his predecessor, Dr. Sam Egwu, the very man who handpicked him as a successor.

Also vexatious in the consideration of some stakeholders was the governor’s reversal of his earlier support for power shift to the Ebonyi South senatorial district after Umahi, who is from the south won the PDP primaries.

Impeachment notice

*Gov Elechi

What led to the impeachment notice on the governor was the burning of sections of the state House of Assembly last week. Though police sources have not disclosed the culprits, tongues are wagging that the act was done by supporters loyal to the Labour Party in the state to avert the ongoing probe of the governor and some government officials and most importantly, the impeachment of the Governor.

The House of Assembly had last Friday served an impeachment notice on Governor Elechi over allegations of gross misconduct perpetrated by him since the commencement of the present administration in the state.

Reading the notice at the plenary, the Acting leader of the House, Hon. Francis Nwifuru stated that the eight (8) allegations levelled against the Governor ranged from financial misappropriation, lack of due process in the appointment of government officials, establishment of state-owned companies without recourse to the state House of Assembly, acquisition of loans from banks without due process among others.

The notice which was comprehensively read to all the members of the House during plenary was signed by 14 PDP and one All Progressive Congress, APC members.

The motion for the Governor to be served an impeachment notice was moved by Hon. Obasi Odefa Obasi representing Onicha East constituency and seconded by Hon. Frank Onwe for Ohaukwu North state constituency.

A source close to the PDP disclosed that within two weeks of the notice, the Governor will be impeached by the State House of Assembly.

In his last media chat at the Executive chamber of the Government House, Abakaliki, Governor Elechi blamed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF for all his woes including the impeachment notice served on him.

He said: “No day passes without one or more national dailies reporting the thickening of impeachment plot against me. The reports border on efforts to assemble sufficient number of signatories or investigation to justify the impeachment. It is interesting for Nigerians to know that the decision to impeach me preceded the finding of justifiable reasons to do so. It is simply the case of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.”

According to him, the Legislators must be convinced that an impeachment is justifiable before he or she can consent to it.

Justifiable reason

But because there have been no justifiable reasons, many honourable members of the house of Assembly received threat messages to either append their signatures or risk assassination/and or a kidnap of their family members.

“Others are coerced from the National Headquarters of the PDP to give their bank particulars so that money will be paid into them In consequence of the fore going many honourable members of the House of Assembly have either fled the state or are in hiding”

Reacting, the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr. Dave Umahi, weekend enjoined the governor to stop pointing accusing fingers on prominent sons of the state, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Chief Fidelis Nwankwo over the notice of impeachment that was served him by the state House of Assembly last Friday.

Comments of the impeachment

At a press conference in Abakaliki, the PDP governorship candidate who described Governor Elechi’s comments on the impeachment notice as false and deceitful stated that it was the right of the House to serve an impeachment notice on any Chief Executive whenever it deemed necessary.

According to him, the Governor had no reason to blame his political woes on the SGF, but rather he should explain the issues of alleged financial misappropriation and constitutional breaches highlighted in the impeachment notice and stop whipping up unnecessary sentiments.

Umahi alleged that Elechi had done everything within his powers to make President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the SGF, so that he (Elechi) would continue to run the affairs of the state as it pleased him.

“It is on record that Anyim has met the governor over five times pleading with him to call the leaders of the state together to make peace, which appeals, the governor turned down”.

“It is a verifiable fact that Anyim since December 2014 has been appealing to the House of Assembly members through notable leaders of the state not to confront Elechi over alleged breaches of the constitution and anti-party activities”.

The Deputy Governor further explained that the beginning of his problem with Elechi was because he insisted on running for the governorship position of the state, which was vehemently opposed by Elechi, not minding their agreement that he (Elechi) would hand over to him.

He stressed that rather than obey their agreement, the governor also tried to impeach him nine times.

With the service of the impeachment notice, the whole state is now on edge.