Friday, October 18, 2019 was a red letter day for the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Northcentral geopolitical zone of Nigeria, Simeon Achuba. A panel constituted by the Chief Judge of the State to look into five allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of his office returned not guilty verdict on all the five counts. The State House did Assembly had informed the Chief Judge of the State to constitute the panel. The Chairman of the panel, John Bayeshea and all the members of the panel were unanimous in their judgment that the Deputy Governor was innocent of the charges preferred against him.

The investigative panel was set up last August after Achuba cried out that his office was being starved of funds for two years by the Governor. He also alleged that his salaries were unpaid over the period. The Deputy Governor further revealed that there were threats to his life. The working relationship between the two men was believed to be strained with Achuba accusing Bello of intolerance of alternative views.

However, in a swift move, like a movie of the absurd apparently rejected the panel’s report went ahead to impeach the Deputy Governor and removed him from office. The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, with the same speed named Edward Onoja as his successor.

Meanwhile Onoja had earlier been nominated as the running mate of the Governor in the gubernatorial election fixed for 16th of November which is under a month away. He was the Chief of Staff to the Governor. Bello on the ticket of All Progressives Congress, APC is seeking a second term in office. His main challenger is Musa Wada of the People’s Democratic Part, PDP. Wada described the impeachment of Achuba as illegal and undemocratic.

In his reaction to the decision of the State Assembly that removed him from office, Achuba said that his impeachment would not stand as he will challenge the matter in court. He insists that he is still the lawful Deputy Governor of Kogi State.

What a political drama playing out in that State!