Showdown in Minna, lawmakers target gov, impeach speaker

It was another setting for political drama, this time in Minna, the Niger State capital, as lawmakers who went for the jugular of the state governor, Aliyu Babangida, ended up impeaching their colleague, the speaker of the assembly, Adamu Usman.

As early as 7:30am, over 200 armed policemen and other security agents stationed themselves at the Assembly as they prevented everybody from gaining entrance into the complex. They were reportedly drafted there to forestall the lawmaker’s plan of impeachment against the governor.

Lawmaker already in the chamber, stormed the gate in fury and ordered the most senior officer, guarding the gate, to open it for their colleagues, who were locked out. Not getting any positive response from the security agents, the lawmakers proceeded to break the padlock and chains on the gate.

Once inside 18 of 27 members proceeded to impeach Usman, replacing him with Isa Kawu as new Speaker.

It was reliably gathered also that members were complaining of non-payment of severance allowances and payment of half salary since February this year. The state government is alleged to be owing each member of the Assembly about N18m, though this figure could not be independently verified.

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