Nigeria: Rivers State's Governor Rotimi Amaechi faces impeachment threat after Adamawa State debacle

The 14 July impeachment and removal from office of Adamawa State’s governor Murtala Nyako, who is a prominent member of the opposition All Progressives’ Congress (APC), has descended into a debacle as credible reports suggest that he has fled to Europe via Ghana.

Although one of his assistants insists he is not running from the law - in this case the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a possible case for treason in relation to his statements on Boko Haram, - the EFCC's media and publicity head, Wilson Uwujaren, stated that in order to locate the elusive Nyako the commission is planning to declare him wanted.

These developments have fuelled suspicions that the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may next target Rivers State’s governor Rotimi Amaechi. The governor, who last year defected to the APC from the PDP, was detained while en route to campaign for Kayode Fayemi in the Ekiti State gubernatorial election in June.

The Rivers State APC chapter has released a statement lauding Amaechi’s qualifications while suggesting that he is among four additional APC governors “pencilled down by the Presidency” for impeachment, along with those from Borno, Edo and Nasarawa States. APC activists proclaim that they will not allow such “evil machinations” to succeed.

Amaechi issued a statement through his chief of staff, Chief Tony Okocha, that any impeachment plot against him would fail because all 25 former PDP Rivers State assembly members defected to the APC and just six remain loyal to the PDP.

In Adamawa State, the State House of Assembly, which stayed loyal to the PDP, was able to obtain the two-thirds majority in favour of for Nyako’s impeachment. A similar challenge against impeachment was issued in Edo State by Governor Adams Oshiomole who is another APC supporter.

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Abuja Federal High Court has exempted five governors from April election

Abuja Federal High Court has exempted five ruling party governors from facing re-election in April, as their terms have not yet expired. Judge Adamu Bello said the governors, who took up their posts a year after most of their colleagues, could not participate in the election "until 60 days to the expiration of (their four year) tenures."

Bello added that it would be "unlawful" and "illegal" for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stage elections in Kogi, Adamawa, Sokoto, Bayelsa and Cross River states.

Speaking about his decision, Bello noted: “There is nowhere in the world where a constitution takes retroactive effect as erroneously held by INEC. The said amendment cannot be used to determine the tenure of the governors who took oath of office in 2008…INEC cannot validly conduct elections in the five states until 60 days to the expiration of the tenures of the present occupants. The notice of elections, received nominations, and timetable issued by INEC for the April 2011 elections are unlawful, illegal and contrary to section 180 of the constitution.”

The five governors who went to court to prevent the INEC from forcing them to take part in the elections before they had completed their full terms are: Ibrahim Idris of Kogi state; Timipriye Sylva, Bayelsa state; Liyel Imoke, Cross River state; Murtala Nyako, Adamawa state and Aliyu Wammakko of Sokoto state.

Sources: The Washington Post, My Joy Online, Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.