The impeachment of the speaker of Kano State House of Assembly, Yusuf Ata may happen sooner than later, as 24 members of the assembly have signed for his removal.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the number of signatories had increased from 21 to 24, needing only 3 more signatures to remove the speaker.
This came as the lawmakers on Tuesday announced the impeachment of Chief Whip of the House, Labaran Madari, representing Warawa constituency and the Deputy Majority Leader, Muhammad Butu-butu, representing Rimin Gado/Tofa constituency.
The members, however, replaced the aforementioned with Abdullahi Yaryasa, representing Tudunwada constituency and Ayuba Durum, representing Kabo constituency, as Chief Whip and Deputy Majority Leader, respectively.
However, the 24 lawmakers, led by the former speaker, Kabiru Rurum, stormed the assembly complex to announce their decision, even as the lawmakers were barred from gaining access to the building by security operatives because despite the house had gone on recess.
The situation prompted Mr Rurum to address journalists on behalf of the other aggrieved members outside the assembly complex.
The former speaker emphasized that there was no going back in their bid to impeach the speaker, adding they would continue to work to meet up with the required 2/3 majority needed to accomplish their mission.
He expressed displeasure for being barred from gaining access to the assembly, noting that as law-abiding citizens, they would not be violent but would go ahead to discharge their constitutional rights.
“As law abiding citizens and the representatives of the people of Kano State, we have gathered here to do what we deemed necessary to remove the speaker of the House.
“You would recall that there was allegations leveled against me when I was a speaker which led to my honorable resignation to enable the House carryout its investigations which led to the emergence of Yusuf Abdullahi Ata as the new speaker. I personally supported him after I stepped down.
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“And recently there have been calls for the impeachment of Attah as the speaker. Thus, we have gathered here today, but as you can see the assembly complex is been barricaded by the Police and men of the Civil Defence Corps,” he said.
He continued, “To impeach the speaker, we need 27 out of the 40 members of the House of the assembly to achieve that, so far so good we have 24 members whom have endorsed for the impeachment of the speaker.
“That is below the number needed but with that number, we can impeach other Principal Officers and we hereby announce the impeachment of Honorable Labaran Abdul representing Warawa constituency as the chief whip of the assembly, as well as Honorable Muhammad Bello Butu-butu, deputy majority leader.
“We have unanimously agreed that Honorable Abudullahi Iliyasu Riyasa of Tudun Wada assume the seat of the chief whip, while Ayuba Labaran from Kabo is to act as the new Deputy Majority Whip, Right Honorable Abdulaziz Garba former speaker to continue as the majority leader while honorable Kabiru Dashi Kiru is now the Deputy majority leader”
“Although we are not in the assembly complex but we are within its premises. As law abiding citizens we won’t engage the security men. The speaker Abdullahi Attah came into the assembly last night and took away the mace but that wouldn’t stop us from carrying out our statutory duties as you can see we have provided another mace”
The embattled speaker was being accused of incompetency, official high handedness and localising the activities of the Assembly.
As at the time of filing in this report, the assembly was still being seals off by combat-ready security operatives around the assembly premises.
