PDP’s attempt to sack Bello Matawalle ridiculous – Festus Keyamo

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for making moves to remove Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State.

Naija News reports that following the defection of Matawalle to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP vowed to reclaim the state in the court.

The main opposiiton party also instructed banks not to do business with the Zamfara governor.

But reacting in a statement, Keyamo said section 221 of the constitution as well as the judgment of the supreme court in Faleke vs the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which the party is hinging on to make its claim, does not relate to defection of a governor from one party to another.

He said: “To give its illogical assertions some veil of constitutionality, the PDP placed reliance on Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as the judgment of the Supreme Court in FALEKE V. INEC.

“Unfortunately for the PDP, the Supreme Court decision in Faleke v. INEC does not relate to the consequence of the defection of a Governor from one political party to the other.

“It is extremely laughable that the PDP that celebrated the defection of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State from the APC to the PDP with such elaborate ballyhoo and fanfare would muster the effrontery to attempt to remove Governor Bello Matawalle from office for defecting to the APC.

“Once again, it is simply ridiculous.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria stated that once a governor is elected he drops that party ticket and becomes a free agent for everyone in that state.

“He is therefore free to associate (and decamp) as he likes to any political party. The supreme court judgment on Zamfara did not proscribe APC as a political party in the state.

“I also wonder the audacity the PDP has to directly instruct banks not to transact any business with a duly elected Governor. This is such a joke that it portrays the PDP as a comedy troupe.

“It is also very seditious to attempt to shut down or take over the government of Zamfara state without a court order and by unconstitutional means,” Keyamo added.