TheCable

A group known as the Citizens Network for Peace and Development (CNPDN) says it will resist any attempt to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

CNPDN is reacting to a purported plot to remove Akpabio from office.

Akpabio, senator representing Akwa Ibom north-west, was elected as the senate president after polling 63 votes to defeat Abdulaziz Yar of Zamfara central who scored 43 votes.

In a statement on Saturday, Francis Okereke Wainwei, the group’s secretary, said the rumoured plot is a “joke taken too far”.

“We woke up to a funny story on Saturday morning about a purported plan by some unnamed senators to impeach Akpabio. Such stories can be ignored,” the statement reads.

“But because we live in a society where some people take jokes too far, we have to immediately stop them. If you cannot win elections through the ballots, you cannot also take over power through the backdoor.

“Akpabio will remain the President of the 10th senate and chairman of the national assembly.

“No senate president has ever done what Akpabio has done in a few months. If not for mischief, why are they in a hurry to disturb Akpabio? The South-South supported these same people when they were in power.

“Why would they want to sabotage Akpabio who is the highest political office holder from the South-South which is the economic power of the country?

“For the sake of peace, we call on those jokers to leave Akpabio alone and allow him to focus on the task of rebuilding Nigeria with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Rebuilding Nigeria is a task for everyone.”