Fresh Debate Ignited as Calls for Scrapping Governors’ Immunity Gain Momentum

The ongoing process of amending the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has reignited discussions regarding the immunity clause for the president, vice president, governors, and their deputies.

Alhaji Lamidi Apapa, the factional national chairman of the Labour Party, recently called on the National Assembly to eliminate the controversial immunity clause that shields state governors during their tenure.

Over time, various Nigerians have echoed similar sentiments, arguing that state governors often misuse the immunity clause to engage in corrupt practices, human rights violations, and even political assassinations.

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In 2008, the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua publicly supported the removal of the immunity clause, citing its role in fostering corruption and likening its beneficiaries to emperors.

Yar’Adua made this statement during a dinner in Switzerland, hosted by the Partnership against Corruption Initiative at the World Economic Forum.

He also mentioned plans to introduce a corruption monitoring mechanism to combat corrupt practices.

Recently, a video from 2008 resurfaced on social media, showing Yar’Adua advocating for the elimination of the immunity clause that shields top government officials from prosecution.

However, there are opposing views suggesting that the immunity clause serves to protect public officers from unnecessary legal battles and distractions.