Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has cried out that the current happenings in Edo State portend grave danger for the forthcoming governorship elections in the state.
Atiku who is a former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and was the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the 2019 presidential polls also said, via a series of tweets on his verified handle, that recent developments in the state is a threat to constitutional order in the country.
According to him, without the rule of law, there will be lawlessness and called on the concerned parties to follow the laws of the land.
Read also: Impeachment Moves: Obaseki Orders Renovation Of Edo Assembly Complex
“Nigeria has been on edge due to the brinkmanship of those charged with democratic leadership,” he said.
“We must, as a nation, not escalate the already tense atmosphere in our polity. The current goings-on portend grave danger, not only to law and order in that state but to the coming Edo elections.”
While restating that Edo residents should be allowed to pick their choice candidate in the September 19th poll, he said “pending then, everything legally possible must be done to preserve the status quo.”
Nigeria has been on edge due to the brinkmanship of those charged with democratic leadership. We must, as a nation, not escalate the already tense atmosphere in our polity.
Read also: Ajayi’s Impeachment Debacle: Ondo Chief Judge, Assembly At Loggerheads
Texts of some of the tweets, below:
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 6, 2020
The current goings-on portend grave danger, not only to law and order in that state but to the coming Edo elections.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 6, 2020
Out in the commentators’ gallery, there are fears that the whole process may indeed be leading to the eventual impeachment of the embattled Governor Obaseki.
This is after seventeen lawmakers of the Edo State House of Assembly, including 14 members whose seats had been previously declared vacant, claimed that they have impeached the Speaker of the House, Francis Okiye, and his deputy, Roland Asoro.
The decision was taken at a private location in Benin City, the state capital; hours after security officials took over the State Assembly Complex.
Drama played out on earlier at the Edo State House of Assembly when dozens of heavily armed security operatives stormed the complex, leading to the eventual renovation of the complex.
As early as 8 am, police officers comprising operatives attached to the Police Mobile Force and Operation Thunderstorm occupied the complex in Benin City, the state capital.
They were later joined by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), preventing entry into the Assembly premises.
In a counter-move however, the ousted speaker has said that his removal was null and void even as the state government has presently ordered the closure of the House of Assembly complex ‘for renovation purposes.’
