Yobe: IPAC Chairman, Secretary Reject Impeachment

The leadership turmoil within Yobe State's Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) has intensified, as the State Chairman, Umar Adamu Jajere, and Secretary-General, Mustapha Gado, have both denied impeachment claims. They maintain that they are the recognized leaders of the council. Their joint statement characterizes the impeachment attempt as null and void, emphasizing that it does not hold any legitimacy.

This incident has sparked new inquiries into the council's governance and its internal operations, especially as electoral campaigns heat up leading up to the 2027 general elections.

In a public notice detailing their refusal to acknowledge the impeachment, Jajere and Gado highlighted several reasons for rejecting the action. They cited the absence of a quorum at the meeting where the impeachment was proposed, arguing that the meeting did not meet the minimum attendance requirement of 50% of the State Executive Council or State Assembly, as stipulated in Sections 8(ii) and 8(iv) of the IPAC Code of Conduct (2019).

Additionally, they contended that individuals not properly nominated by their respective political party state chairmen were present and voted, which is a breach of Sections 4.2(a) and 15 of the code. They further contended that the meeting was not properly convened, pointing out a lack of written notice signed by two-thirds of the members and the absence of the mandatory seven-day notice for the chairman, as required by Section 8(vii).

Regarding the disciplinary process, the IPAC leaders stated that no complaint was filed with either the Disciplinary Committee or the Political Parties Alternative Dispute Resolution (PPADR) Committee, nor was there any investigation conducted prior to the impeachment attempt. They cautioned that anyone claiming to be an IPAC representative in Yobe State based on the impeachment was acting without legitimate authority.

They also threatened disciplinary measures, including suspension, against those who participated in the impeachment process, alleging violation of the council’s Code of Conduct.

IPAC has called upon the Yobe State Government, the State Independent Electoral Commission (YOSIEC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other political stakeholders to acknowledge Jajere and Gado as the official leaders of the council. They have informed the National Secretariat of the council about the situation, adhering to Section 4.3 of the code. The group responsible for initiating the impeachment has yet to respond to the IPAC's statement.