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.

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

© 2014 Menas Associates

Nigeria's President sounds out supporters for 2015 re-election bid

President Goodluck Jonathan won backing for a re-election bid from several People's Democratic Party (PDP) state governors and House of Representatives members at a meeting held at the Aso Rock presidential villa in Abuja in the week ending 19 July.

Insiders say Jonathan will officially declare his candidacy in late August, following the end of Ramadan and out of respect to Muslim members of the PDP. He also wants to pre-empt any rivals. His most likely opponent within the PDP for the nomination is Jigawa state’s governor Sule Lamido who has the backing of former president Olusegun Obasanjo (1999–2007).

Lamido, a quietly spoken former foreign minister, is scarcely more charismatic than Jonathan but the PDP’s northern caucus would find him more acceptable. If he mounts a serious campaign, with strong backing from PDP governors in the north, he could really damage Jonathan. This, however, requires courage and money and no one is certain about Lamido’s reserves of either commodity.

Despite this Jonathan may need to offer him a very important job if he is to be persuaded to cease and desist.

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

© 2014 Menas Associates

President Jonathan confirms intention to run for presidency

On Tuesday 7th September, President Goodluck Jonathan confirmed his intention to run for the presidency in the 2011 general elections. The announcement was made in an exclusive meeting with a group of governors who were elected under the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The governors' meeting, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was attended by the following governors:

Danbaba Suntai - Taraba State

Isa Yuguda - Bauchi State

Godswill Akpabio - Akwa Ibom State

Rotimi Amaechi - Rivers State

Liyel Imoke - Cross Rivers State

Timipre Sylva - Bayelsa State

Sullivan Chime - Enugu State

Gabriel Suswam - Benue State

Emmanuel Uduaghan - Delta State

Ihedi Ohakim - Imo State

Murtala Nyako - Adamawa State

Aliyu Akwe Doma - Nassarawa State

Babangida Aliyu - Niger State.

Although specific details of the meeting are yet unknown, sources said that the governors confirmed their support for Jonathan's candidacy, and some offered to be zonal co-ordinators of his campaign.

Sources have stated that the President will make the long-awaited formal public declaration of his intention on the 18th September. His disclosure came three days earlier than the expected date of 10th September, which had been announced by Presidential Adviser on Legislative/National Assembly matters Mohammed Abba-Aji.

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

© 2010 Menas Associates

President Goodluck Jonathan entitled to run for office says PDP

Nigeria’s governing party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), has conceded that President Goodluck Jonathan is entitled to stand in next year's elections, despite the unwritten PDP practice of alternating power between the north and the south of the country.

Jonathan, a southerner, was sworn in as president when president Umaru Yar'Adua died in May 2010, half way through the north's turn of two presidential terms.

"The party believes that Dr Goodluck Jonathan as part and parcel of the joint ticket has the right to contest the presidential primaries for the 2010 elections," said, PDP chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo.

Jonathan remains silent about whether or not he will run for office next year. Many have noted that despite his popularity his chances of winning will depend on whether or not he will be willing to address a number of important issues such as corruption and the electricity crisis.

Source: BBC News

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