PDP Govs Condemn Impeachment Of Zamfara Dep Gov

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have described the impeachment of Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Barr Mahdi Gusau as immoral, illegal and unfortunate.
Recall that the Zamfara State House of Assembly on Tuesday, February 22, impeached Gusau.
The PDP Governors Forum, in a statement by its Director-General, Hon. CID Maduabum, Friday condemned the process which it described as naked and unconstitutional abuse of power.
It added that “It is immoral, perfidious and an affront to the rule of law for an illegally constituted House of Assembly to purport to oust a validly elected Deputy Governor, just because he towed the path of honour and followed his oath of office by remaining faithful to those that elected him as a PDP member.
“It should be noted that the entire Zamfara House of Assembly decamped from PDP to APC without any form of division in PDP and therefore should lose their seats as required by the Constitution. Such an unconstitutional body has no power or mandate to impeach the Zamfara Deputy Governor.”
The forum said it was worse on the account that there was a subsisting suit on the matter for which a court had granted preservative orders in the past.
It said it would support a return to legality and constitutionalism in the Zamfara affair.
In a related developmemt, a former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has condemned the abrupt impeachment of the Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mahadi Ali Gusau, without complying with constitutional process and procedures.
In a statement released on his social media handles, Saraki noted that: “At this time, when all leaders and stakeholders in our young democracy should be pursuing and encouraging all means to follow the Constitution, the abrupt impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Mahadi Ali, without following due process and just because he refused to join the ruling party is truly disheartening.

“We cannot attempt to subvert the freedom of association of any individual — whether a sitting public office holder or a regular citizen. This freedom allows any individual to freely join or exit a political party when he deems fit. The ruling party should not and cannot attempt to brow-beat a public office holder to join their party or to bend to their political leanings, simply because they have the majority in the legislature.
“We must preserve the integrity of our democratic institutions, otherwise, we risk setting dangerous constitutional and political precedents that can spiral.
“At this time, I must commend Barr. Mahadi Ali, for his courage and tenacity in the face of overwhelming adversity. He has shown that he is a young and progressive leader with true conviction. He stands as a beacon of hope for many young Nigerians”, Saraki stated.