Embattled Bankole Gets Reprieve

PHOTO: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MR. DIMEJI BANKOLE.

ABUJA April 20, (THEWILL) - There was reprieve for the embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole as the group seeking to remove him on Tuesday failed to launch an impeachment motion against him on the floor of the House as earlier planned.

Plenary however opened with heightened tension culminating from several nocturnal meetings held by lawmakers at different locations with those sympathetic to the Speaker making frantic efforts to check the impeachment moves.

The Nigeria First Group (NFF) led by Honourable Annas Adamu however backpedalled on its move against Bankole following its inability to reach a consensus and get enough support from other lawmakers.

This is especially as the South West caucus in the House which met late Monday night had resolved to support Bankole.

As at Tuesday it was clear that the group could not garner the two third majority vote needed to remove the Speaker.

A total of 240 members representing two third of the 360 members will have to vote in favour of the impeachment before the Speaker is removed from office.

The support for Bankole, it was gathered came as a result of several text messages sent by the Speaker pleading with the lawmakers to drop the moves against him.

However after plenary, members of the group told journalist that the NFF was not principally set up to remove the Speaker but to ensure purposeful leadership in the House.