Edward Onoja was sworn in as Deputy Governor of Kogi State on Monday, 21st October 2019 by Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Nadir Ajana. Mr. Onoja who is the running mate of the State Governor, Yahaya Bello in the upcoming November 16 Governorship election and his former Chief of Staff, was screened by the Kogi State House of Assembly on the same day prior to being sworn in.
The former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Simon Achuba was impeached by the Kogi State House of Assembly on Friday, 18th October 2019, following the submission of an investigative report to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole by a seven-man committee set up by Chief Judge of the State and led by Mr. John Bayeshea to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Mr. Achuba. The committee was set up in August 2019 following Achuba’s criticism of the State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who he alleged was withholding his salaries since 2017 and had plotted to assassinate him. The Governor however, denied the allegations. This was followed by Achuba’s suspension by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, for alleged anti-party activities before and during the 2019 general elections. However, John Bayeshea, the Chairman of the committee set to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the ex-Deputy Governor, stated that the committee did not find Achuba guilty of the allegations levelled against him, as they were not proved. Expressing his surprise at the turn of events, Bayeshea stated that, “Once the panel returns a verdict like that, no further proceedings can be taken on it. It is only when a panel returns a verdict that allegations have been proved to be true that they (House of Assembly) can go ahead within 40 days”. Speaking to journalists through his counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), Simon Achuba described his impeachment as an illegality and disregard for the rule of law. Insisting that he remains Deputy Governor of the State, Achuba disclosed that he would be challenging the impeachment in court.