A crisis of confidence bordering on alleged partisanship and partiality is currently rocking the seven-man probe panel set up by the Nasarawa State Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to investigate the alleged wrongdoings against Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

Those kicking against the composition of the membership of the panel, which they alleged was tilted in favour of the embattled governor, had also reportedly packaged petitions against Justice Dikko, to push for his dismissal by the National Judicial Council (NJC) if the panel is not disbanded.

The development is said to have brought uncertainty into the job of the panel, expected to begin full-blown proceedings after the Sallah break.

Complaints are coming from both the pro- and anti-impeachment lawmakers over members of the panel, with those pushing for the impeachment feeling more hard done by.

The impeachment process ends constitutionally if the panel clears the governor of any wrongdoing on the 15 allegations of misconduct levelled against him.

The governor, who last week vowed to judicially stop the panel, made a U-turn at the weekend, by indicating his readiness to appear before it. Reports from Lafia said he has hired seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria to defend him before the investigating panel.

In the case of alleged partiality and partisanship being made against the members, it was alleged that the wife of the chairman of the panel, Yusuf Shehu Usman, is a known ally of the wife of the state governor, as well as a female judge in the state.

It was also alleged that the older brother of the chairman, who died a few months back, was, until his death, a title holder in a particular emirate (name withheld) in the state, with loyalty to the emir (names withheld) who had allegedly been at the fore-front of the “Save-Al-Makura” project.

The membership of Galadima Keffi, Alhaji Abdu Usman, was also being kicked against on the ground of alleged party membership.

It was contended that his son contested and lost the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the chairmanship of the local government.

Usman is also alleged to be friends with the former governor of the state and APC leader, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi.

Another member, Mohammed Sabo Keana, was alleged to be a politician whose impartiality could not be guaranteed.

He was the Secretary to the State Government in the administration of Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi.

He reportedly remains a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while allegedly maintaining his relations with his former boss, despite being in different political parties.

The membership of Reverend Joel Galadima is also in contention, as he is a member of the state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board as an appointee of the governor who is also reportedly his kinsman.

The appointment of both Pastor Daniel Chaga and Samuel Chaku was also said to be in alleged contravention of fair representation, as both were said to be from the same Wanba Local Government Area of the state, while no member was allegedly picked from the majority Eggon nation.

Eggon tribe is at the forefront of political opposition to the governor over an alleged breach of gentleman agreement between him and Senator Solomon Ewuga to rotate the governorship on single-term basis.

Chaga and Chaku are allegedly nominated by the deputy Chairman of APC in the state, popularly called Lamus, reportedly the political leader of Wanba council.

The seventh member, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Usman, is allegedly a prominent member of Nsala sect and allegedly attended a solidarity meeting recently with the governor.

•Largely based on a Nigerian Tribune report. Photo shows Governor Al-Makura.

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