PDP asks Ondo assembly to begin impeachment proceedings against Akeredolu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo has asked the state house of assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Rotimi Akeredolu.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Kennedy Peretei, PDP spokesperson in Ondo, alleged that governance has been grounded in the state for the past six months.

The opposition party had reprimanded the governor for working from Ibadan following his return to Nigeria in September.

Akeredolu returned to the country early last month after a three-month medical leave in Germany.

The PDP had demanded the governor’s resignation if he could not return to Ondo.

‘AKEREDOLU’S ILL HEALTH HAMPERING GOVERNANCE’

Peretei claimed that Akeredolu has not convened the state executive council meeting in months, thereby violating section 193(2) of the constitution.

“The time has come for the Ondo State House of Assembly to immediately begin the impeachment process of Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,” the statement reads.

“It is no longer news that Ondo State has been on auto-pilot for nearly six months, grounding all activities of the government due to the ill health of the Governor.

“When was the last time Akeredolu held a State Executive Council meeting? It is not a crime to be ill, but that will not be reason an entire state must be brought to her knees.”

The PDP asked the Ondo house of assembly to invoke sections 189(1) to “cause a Medical Panel to be instituted to ascertain Akeredolu’s medical status and do the needful in the interest of the people of the state”.

Peretei also alleged that Akeredolu’s media advisers are not telling the truth about the governor’s health condition, saying they are “insulting the sensibilities of the people”.

“The handling of Akeredolu’s condition by his aides has robbed the Governor of public sympathy,” he said.

‘AKEREDOLU IS PERFORMING HIS DUTIES’ — LAWMAKER

Meanwhile, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, majority leader of the Ondo house of assembly, has asked residents in the state to ignore the PDP’s demand.

Ogunmolasuyi said the governor has been performing his constitutional duties and has not violated any provision of the constitution.

“The governor is doing his duties. Everything is going on well in the state. We have met with the Governor and all those that want to meet with him,” Ogunmolasuyi said.

The lawmaker said if Akeredolu was not performing his duties, the state assembly would have “questioned him”.

“He has signed all bills brought before him. What we know is that the PDP is a dead party. They cannot stipulate the duties of a Governor,” Ogunmolasuyi said.