Akwa Ibom Council Leader Impeached

Councillors in the 8th Mkpat Enin local government legislative council have impeached their leader, Hon. Nyakno Sampson Ekpo.

He was removed over alleged gross misconduct, neglect of duty and gross inefficiency amongst other offences.

Consequently, the councillor representing Ikpa Ikono Ward 3, Hon Oku Michael, has been elected in his stead.

The motion for the impeachment was read during the plenary by the majority leader and councilor representing Ukpum Minya Ward 2, Hon Felix Johnson, citing Order 39 of the Legislative Council. He noted that “the former leader had been using the position for personal enrichment, political vendetta and obstruction of legislative processes.”

He also listed his offences to include “preventing councilors from performing their lawful duties, failure to convene statutory meetings, deliberate avoidance of legislative responsibilities, which amounts to gross misconduct.”

In what they described as neglect of duty and gross inefficiency, no fewer than 12 out of the 15 councilors who signed the impeachment notice, explained that “the ousted leader was found guilty of failure to preside over council sessions or perform statutory functions and not allowing the deputy leader to preside, thereby not calling for plenary sessions for over three months; abandonment of office or prolonged dereliction of duty without just cause; repeated inability to provide effective leadership, leading to legislative stagnation.”