Enugu State Deputy Governor Sunday Onyebuchi lost yesterday the battle to keep his job.
The House of Assembly impeached him following its adoption of the report of the panel that probed him.
The panel, which was set up by the Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike, investigated the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him by the lawmakers.
His sack followed the adoption of the report of the seven- man panel.
The impeachment motion was moved by Udeh Okoye, representing Awgu North state constituency during plenary, and was endorsed by 21 of the 24-member House.
Okoye, who is the House leader, while moving the motion, said the panel concluded that the “allegations of gross misconduct leveled against the deputy governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi by the Enugu State House of Assembly have been proved.”
He said the House, “having carefully considered the report on investigation of the allegations do adopt it and it is hereby adopted.”
Onyebuchi told reporters after he was sacked that his removal will not stand.
He said he was heading for court.
The Southeast chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned yesterday the impeachment of Onyebuchi because, according to the party, it was politically motivated and based on flimsy allegations.
Its spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, in statement said the impeachment has once more confirmed that the Enugu State House of Assembly is a Rubber-Stamp Assembly.
APC said that it was only an Executive pliant and stooge Legislature, which would ignobly negate the intendment of Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
It claimed that the Constitution rates gross misconduct as grave violations of the Constitution, not impeachment as tool for political vendetta.
It asked: “Otherwise, when has Chicken-Farming in the Government House become Gross-Misconduct envisaged by the Constitution? When has the resolution of the House become law? Or is the House not aware that the Chicken-Farm was raided on January 27, 2014, by the unfolding dictatorship in Enugu?”
The party said: “We have to caution His Excellency, Chief Sullivan Chime to desist from the narrow road to dictatorship, as it is an ill-wind that blows none good. Unfortunately, we have observed recently sign- post of dictatorship, corruption and propaganda in the state affairs in Enugu State.
“For if we keep quiet today because it is an intra-party dispute, Chief Chime may become a great risk to our fledgling democracy, especially on the eve of a crucial 2015 general election. Enough is Enough.
“We challenge, Chief Onyebuchi to contest his impeachment in court, as it is our considered view that the Chicken-Farm impeachment was politically motivated, unconstitutional and undemocratic.”
The search for the successor to the impeached deputy governor of Enugu State, Sunday Onyebuchi has begin in earnest.
Two names are being mentioned as possible replacement. The two are from the Nkanu clan where the impeached deputy governor hails from.
One is a special assistant to the governor on projects, Uche Nwobodo. His father is the traditional ruler in Nara community where Onyebuchi comes from.
He was also the chairman of the Enugu State Independent Election Commission (ENSIEC).
The other name being touted is Uchenna Ogbu. Not much is known about Ogbu. But he is said to be highly favoured by stakeholders.
But there are speculations that the governor may pick a woman as his deputy.
If the speculations prove to be right, then it is likely the replacement may come from one of the woman special assistants from Nkanuland.
“It is only the governor, and of course, God that knows who will succeed Onyebuchi,” said a stakeholder who wants his name suppressed.
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