Kogi Assembly reacts to alleged plan to impeach Speaker

The chairman House Committee on Information, Kogi State House of Assembly, Sunday Shigaba has debunked the claims that plans are on the way to impeach the Speaker, Mathew Kolawole.

Kolawole was elected speaker on 3rd August 2017 following the resignation of Umar Ahmed Imam (APC) Lokoja I constituency.

The impeachment move against Kolawole according to information circulating on social media is not unconnected to alleged N200 million bribe scandal which was debunked at the House plenary on Tuesday.

It was reported that members have started gathering signatures to impeach the speaker and had since penciled down Idris Ndawo, member representing Lokoja II who on Tuesday defected to the ruling All ProgressIves Congress (APC) from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

But Sunday Shigaba while addressing assembly Press Corps in Lokoja to clear the air noted that the information is mischievous.

He dismissed the claims that the assembly is plunging towards another round of crisis.

” I want to put this on record that no member of the Assembly has claimed knowledge of such a request or such approval and subsequent collection of N200 million bribe from the executive.

“It should be noted clearly here that we are honourable members elected from our various constituency and it is not the first time a member or members have defected to another party.

“To the best of our knowledge, we have not been lobbied by any body. No member of the assembly claims knowledge of lobbying from the executive as it is stated to be wanting to change the leadership of the house from Prince Mathew Kolawole to Honourable Idris Ndako.

“If there is anything in such manner, it could be an individual ambition, aspirations, it has not been brought to the knowledge of the house not to talk of generating any crisis. That I can also attest to” he noted.

He added that the 25 members in the Assembly remains united and committed in the discharge of their legislative business.

“of course, anybody has right as a member of the Kogi State house of assembly to aspire for any position that doesn’t mean that your aspiration will translate to get it.

“As far as we are concerned, as members of the Kogi State house of assembly, we are united, focused, we have our leadership under Prince Mathew Kolawole and there have not been any pressure from any where to quit him out of that office.

” We are not in crisis in any form, no crisis is looming, but of course we are taken aback when rumors and information started springing up from left and right that such thing is going on. “