Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, yesterday, said he would appear before the impeachment panel set up by the state House of Assembly, even as he described the panel as illegal.
The embattled governor had earlier condemned the House for embarking on what he described as “unconstitutional and grossly illegal” impeachment process aimed at ousting him from office.
He said he would appear before the panel to clear himself of the allegations levelled against him.
He spoke at the Presidential Lodge when traditional rulers in the state and some of his permanent secretaries paid him Sallah homage.
According to him, “I have made up my mind to appear before the panel of inquiry constituted in accordance with the constitution of Nigeria to clear myself of any allegation against me and to publish the outcome on any medium I will choose at the end.”
Al-Makura had told his supporters during a solidarity rally at the Government House last week that the impeachment process was illegal, adding that the Assembly had not served him with any impeachment notice.
However, the opposition PDP had earlier faulted the constitution of the panel, saying the wife of the panel’s Chairman, Yusuf Usman, was Al-Makura’s wife, Salamatu Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
Rev. Joel Galadima, a member of the board of Nasarawa State Christian Pilgrims’ Welfare Board and other members of the panel were also said to be card-carrying members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, which the opposition said could water down the findings of the panel.