Senator David Mark Finally Reacts To Governor Ortom’s Impeachment

Immediate past President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, on Monday said that the purported impeachment of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State by eight out of the 30 members House of Assembly is at best an exercise in futility.

Describing the alleged impeachment as null and void, while reacting to developments in Benue State, Sen. Mark cautioned the lawmakers not to engage in any act that could undermine the established tenet of democracy.

The immediate past president of the Senate, in a statement by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, said, “It is unconstitutional and devoid of any known legislative practices and procedures.

“I will advice members of the Benue State House of Assembly to be guided by the constitution and legislative rules and procedures. They should not engage in any act that could undermine the established tenet of democracy.

“The action of some members of Benue State House of Assembly violates section 188(2) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which requires that a Notice of Impeachment has to be supported by at least one third of the members of the House to be valid. This is obviously not the case here.
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“What is expected of the lawmakers is a collaborative effort with executive arm of state government to provide the needed dividend of democracy to the people of Benue State.

“They should remember that the interest and welfare of the people of Benue State is paramount. Anything less would be a disservice to the people they swore to serve.”

Advising the governor not to be distracted by the development but remain focused and steadfast in the discharge of his duties, Mark appealed to the people of Benue State to remain calm and law-abiding just as he counseled security operatives to maintain law and order objectively.