The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on Thursday called on members of the Kogi State House of Assembly to reject the plot of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to forcibly remove the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajana.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, disclosed this in a statement, adding that there was no provision in the nation’s constitution that empowered the state legislature to superintend over the judiciary or direct the powers and functions of the National Judicial Council on issues pertaining to judges, let alone a state Chief Judge.
He said, “The recommendation of the Kogi State House of Assembly for the removal of the state Chief Judge is therefore a misdirected shadowboxing, which not only exposes the state legislature to public ridicule but also reinforces impressions and allegations in the public space that it has been compromised to execute ignoble schemes of the state executive.”
Ologbondiyan stated that the development was not healthy for the image of the legislators in the state and could lead to their recall by their constituents.
He explained that the powers and functions of the state legislature vis-a vis those of the judiciary are well carved out in the nation’s laws and should be respected at all times.
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Ologbondiyan said, “The ostensibly induced action of the Kogi State legislature is therefore a direct affront to our constitution and invitation to anarchy.
“The Kogi lawmakers should note that they were elected to uphold good governance and rule of law for the benefit and welfare of the people of Kogi State, and not as instruments of witch-hunt and intimidation in the hands of an anti-people, repressive, incompetent and grossly corrupt administration, which has no regard for the law and the will of the people.”
Continuing, he noted that, the lawmakers should note that in allegedly ditching the constitutional provision of separation of powers and allegedly joining in assaulting the independence and sanctity of the judiciary, they were also setting their parliament on the path of self-destruction and complete annexation by the executive.
“The party therefore charges the members of the Kogi State House of Assembly to immediately retrace their steps and ensure that as lawmakers, they are not found on the wrong side of the law,” Ologbondiyan said.
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