The crisis in the Yobe State Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has escalated as the embattled Chairman, Umar Adamu Jajere, and Secretary-General, Mustapha Gado, have openly rejected their impeachment. In a joint statement, they argued that the reported impeachment has no legal effect and that they continue to pilot the affairs of the council. This development comes as the umbrella body for registered parties in the state faces internal challenges, with political activities building up towards the 2027 general elections.
Jajere and Gado claimed that the gathering where the decision to impeach them was taken failed to meet the required quorum. They alleged that neither the State Executive Council nor the State Assembly had up to half of its members present, as demanded by the IPAC Code of Conduct (2019). Additionally, they stated that those who took part in the meeting and voted were not duly accredited, lacking written nominations from the state chairmen of their parties.
The two officials also questioned the process by which the meeting was called, citing a lack of written request endorsed by two-thirds of members and the required seven days' notice. They further faulted the disciplinary procedure, noting that no petition was forwarded to the Disciplinary Committee or the Political Parties Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, and no probe was carried out before their removal was announced.
Jajere and Gado cautioned that any person claiming to hold office in the Yobe IPAC through that exercise lacks lawful backing. They warned that members who took part in the said meeting risk disciplinary measures, including suspension, for allegedly breaching the council's rules. The duo appealed to the Yobe State Government, Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, and other stakeholders to deal only with them as the authentic leadership of the council.
The national headquarters of IPAC has already been informed of the situation, in line with Section 4.3 of the Code. As of the time of filing this report, the faction that announced the removal had not issued any response. This development has significant implications for the internal dynamics of IPAC in Yobe State and the credibility of the impeachment process.
The Yobe IPAC crisis highlights the challenges faced by political bodies in Nigeria, particularly in the lead-up to general elections. The internal power struggles and disagreements over procedural issues can undermine the effectiveness and legitimacy of such bodies. It remains to be seen how this crisis will be resolved and what impact it will have on the 2027 general elections in Yobe State.
The rejection of their impeachment by Jajere and Gado has added a new layer of complexity to the Yobe IPAC crisis. Their insistence on their legitimacy as leaders of the council sets the stage for a potential showdown with the faction that announced their removal. The situation will likely continue to unfold in the coming days, with implications for the state's political landscape.
Key points
- The sacked chairman and secretary-general of Yobe IPAC have rejected their impeachment, citing procedural violations.
- The impeachment process was deemed illegitimate due to lack of quorum and accreditation of members.
- The crisis has implications for the internal dynamics of IPAC in Yobe State and the credibility of the impeachment process.
