Benue: Chief Judge’s removal, lawmakers’ suspension highest level of rascality – APC elders

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Council in Benue North-West senatorial district, Tuesday, strongly condemned the removal of the Chief Judge of Benue state and the suspension of 13 members of the Benue state assembly, describing it as the highest level of legislative rascality.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Makurdi, the council described the action as unconstitutional, unpatriotic and unjust.

The council’s chairman, Chief Akange Audu, and secretary, Engineer Begha Nyamkyume, stated that the suspension of the lawmakers, including seven from his senatorial district, was a clear violation of their rights and those of their constituents.

The council argued that the Benue State House of Assembly lacked the power to suspend the lawmakers, citing the constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

The group also pointed out that the suspension was done without giving the affected members fair hearing, further rendering it null and void.

The council expressed worry that out of those suspended, two of them were at the same time denied their statutory entitlements, such as vehicles and their financial benefits.

“These acts depict discrimination, “legislative rascality and insensitivity” by the leadership of the assembly and constitute dangerous precedents that threaten the very fabric of our democratic governance.

“It is an attempt to silent dissent and stifle the voices of the people of our zone and deny us effective representation. It is a total denial of representation in legislation for the people of zone B.”

On the removal of the Chief Judge, the council stated that the Benue State House of Assembly failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the constitution, including Section 292, which requires the involvement of the National Judicial Council in the process.

The APC elders council called on the Benue State House of Assembly to immediately withdraw the suspension of the lawmakers and provide official vehicles to the two members who were denied their statutory entitlements. 

They also urged the assembly to cancel the purported approval for the removal of the Chief Judge.

The council appealed to all stakeholders, including the National Assembly and relevant authorities, to condemn the actions of the Benue State House of Assembly and uphold the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

One of the elders, Mike Iordye, urged the assembly to address the rot in the house and stop portraying Benue in bad light while sitting on armless plastic chairs.