Nigeria's opposition threatens to impeach president

By Olanrewaju Kola

ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) – Opposition legislators in Nigeria’s Senate on Wednesday threatened to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari over increasing insecurity in parts of the country.

Buhari has six weeks to “take stronger action and resolve this issue of insecurity,” Philip Aduda, a member of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, said at a press conference in the capital Abuja.

“We are disappointed with the way the worsening security situation across the country is being handled by the president,” said Aduda, who was flanked by around 40 opposition members of the 109-member Senate.

He said the senators will start exploring ways to kick off the impeachment process if Buhari fails to action.

However, the opposition lawmakers currently do not have the required numbers to follow through on their threat.

Nigeria has been grappling with mounting insecurity amid a relentless wave of kidnappings and attacks by bandits and other groups that the government has designated as terrorist organizations.

Inflation, soaring unemployment and a generally bleak economic outlook are also major challenges for the government ahead of the general elections slated for next February.