At least 60 senators have signed a motion seeking to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan, Weekly Trust has learnt. The House of Reps started the impeachment moves against the president on Thursday last week when security agencies almost prevented them from gaining access to the parliament building and tear-gassed Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other lawmakers. Two hundred members of the House of Representatives have signed an impeachment motion against the president, house minority whip, Samson Osagie, said yesterday. Sources told Weekly Trust that senators of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives’ Congress (APC) were pressing on with the plot to oust Jonathan over allegations of gross misconduct. Senator Babafemi Ojudu (APC, Ekiti), told Weekly Trust that: “The idea of impeachment of the president was first mooted by the PDP members and they got in touch with us in the APC. They came up with very cogent reasons why impeachment should take place.” Ojudu said the APC caucus agreed to be part of the plot after discussing at one of their caucus meetings, adding that: “We all agreed to press on with it.” He said he does not know how many senators have signed the motion, but “they can’t be less than 50 who have signed so far, including some PDP members,” adding that more PDP members were waiting for the outcome of the primary elections of their party before they sign the motion though that they had since okayed the move. Ojudu listed some of the charges against Jonathan to include poor management of the economy, abuse of the constitution and gross misconduct and inability to contain the insurgency in the north-east, among others. Rep. Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno), confirmed that he has signed the impeachment motion and will push for it in the lower chamber. Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara), also confirmed that many senators have already endorsed the motion. Our correspondent reports that the motion was not tabled before the senate on Wednesday when the upper chamber adjourned plenary to next week but Ojudu said: “The aim is to carry as many senators along as possible; we don’t want to rush with it since we are already having meetings and consultations with the House of Representatives.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 10:27:38 +0000
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