Yobe IPAC crisis deepens as sacked chairman, secretary reject impeachment

The conflict over leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Yobe State has intensified following the rejection of impeachment by the ousted Chairman, Umar Adamu Jajere, and Secretary-General, Mustapha Gado. Both officials publicly refuted the reported impeachment, asserting that it lacks legal validity and that they continue to steer the council's operations.

Their stance emerges amid internal strife within the state's umbrella body for registered parties, as political activities escalate in anticipation of the 2027 general elections. The alleged impeachment contravened several provisions of the IPAC Code of Conduct (2019), which the two maintain could not be upheld. They argued that the decision-making meeting lacked the necessary quorum, with neither the State Executive Council nor the State Assembly having a majority of its members present as required by the Code.

Moreover, the officials claimed that the attendees were not properly accredited, lacking proper nomination from their respective party chairmen, a stipulation under Sections 4.2(a) and 15 of the Code. They questioned the legitimacy of the meeting's convening, citing the absence of a written request endorsed by two-thirds of members and the denial of the seven-day notice mandated by Section 8(vii).

Additionally, they criticized the disciplinary process, noting that no petition was submitted to the Disciplinary Committee or the Political Parties Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, and no investigation was conducted prior to the removal announcement. Consequently, they declared that anyone claiming to hold office in the Yobe IPAC through that process lacks legal authority.

The duo further warned that participants in the meeting may face disciplinary measures, including suspension, for violating the council's rules. They called upon the Yobe State Government, Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), and other stakeholders to recognize only their leadership as legitimate. They stated that the national headquarters of IPAC has been notified of the situation in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Code.

As of the time of reporting, the faction that announced the impeachment had not responded. The crisis surrounding the Yobe IPAC continues to deepen as the sacked chairman and secretary reject the impeachment.