Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello

Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, are to appear before a panel of the Federal House of Representatives Tuesday over the persistent leadership crisis rocking the State House of Assembly.

The panel created by Speaker Yakubu Dogara will be chaired by House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The Governor is accused of encouraging five members of the 25-man Kogi State assembly to continue to sit and carry out legislative functions despite a resolution of the National Assembly to the contrary.

Kogi State Assembly had been ‘on fire’ following the impeachment of the Speaker by only five members. The impeachment was later nullified by a federal High Court in Abuja on May 19, but Governor Bello has continued to recognize the five-man legislator.

He presented the State’s 2016 budget and his cabinet nominees to the five member house, an action the federal lawmakers say was illegal.

Following the crisis the National assembly had taken over the functions of the Kogi State assembly, directing the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase to seal up the Assembly premises pending the resolution of the crisis.

Meanwhile, the Army Chief, Buratai was dragged into the case because Governor Bello had allegedly used soldiers to give protection to the five members to continue to sit in defiance of court orders and the resolution of the House of Representatives.

The federal lawmakers threatened that if the Governor refuses to appear before the panel, they will have no other option than to commence impeachment processes against him.