Speaker of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Legislative Council, Mr. Daniel Michael, on Friday, seized the mace, the symbol of authority, to prevent his impeachment.
His action followed the move by his colleagues to impeach him over the allegations of misconduct and abuse of privileges.
Majority leader of the House, Mr Yusuf Kadir, while moving a motion to pass a vote of no confidence on the Speaker for alleged gross misconduct, called for his impeachment.
Deputy Speaker, Mr Haruna Saidu, who presided over the session, directed the Clerk to serve the Speaker with the no-confidence vote notice moved against him.
Saidu explained that the speaker had been given notice and the ultimatum to respond to the petition on or before May 30, but had to step down as the speaker in the meantime.
He further said that the impeachment would depend on his response to the notice served him.
Representative of Kabusa ward, Mr Aminu Barde, had called on the House to strike out article ‘B’ in the motion, which according to him, was strictly a party affair and should not be brought to the house.
Mr. Isah Baushe, the Councillor representing Gwarinpa ward, said that the speaker should be given time to respond to the petition in writing before his the formal impeachment.
Baushe added that the petitioners should also provide evidence to back up their claims.
In his reaction, the Speaker told NAN that he had not done anything wrong and would answer any question brought to him.
“I know myself, I have not done anything wrong, I’ll answer them,” he said.
The glass door to the chamber was completely broken during the fracas that ensued at the chamber, following the event.
The lawmakers resorted to the use of the old broken mace to conduct the business of the day.
Some of the lawmakers, however, expressed happiness at the happening at the chamber, saying the “crisis would allow members to sit up for serious legislative business”.
