A Marching Order.

(From The News (Nigeria) - AAGM)

Byline: Ben Adaji

Three Principal Officers of Taraba State House of Assembly Lose Their Posts

On 11 October, seven months after the impeachment of Uba Maigari Ahmadu as Deputy Governor of Taraba State, three principal officers of the state's house of assembly, have also lost their positions. The officers are Simon Dogari, former Speaker; Abubakar Hassan, Deputy Speaker and Virginia Baba, former Chief Whip.

Impeachment procedures against the house leaders actually began in March, shortly after the deputy governor was shown the way out. In fact, the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had expressed reservations over the seven- count charge of gross misconduct against the deputy governor which eventually led to his impeachment. Venatius Ikem, National Publicity Secretary of the party had declared that the PDP was not satisfied with the allegations against Ahmadu.

According to him, the national secretariat found no incriminating evidence, hence their earlier caution to Taraba law makers to tread softly. But the legislators rebuffed them and went ahead to impeach the deputy governor.

This incensed the national secretariat and a disciplinary committee was immediately set up to investigate the law makers. On 27 October, 2003 they were found guilty. This was contained in a statement signed by Vincent Ogbulafor, secretary of the party.