From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The ADC, in a statement by its interim Spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Friday, implored Shettima “ to stand by his forthright and courageous statement, which affirms that the President has no constitutional power to remove an elected councilor, not to talk of a sitting Governor.”

The Vice President, while speaking at the launch of a book by former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Bello Adoke, on Thursday, recalled how President Goodluck Jonathan attempted to remove him as governor of Borno State but was told that he has no power to remove an elected governor.

However, Shettima comment generated backlash for President Bola Tinubu, who suspended Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and other elected state officials after declaring an emergency rule in the state.

The Presidency on Friday, issued a clarification, saying that the Vice President’s remark was twisted.

Nonetheless, ADC noted that the same thing that made the same law that made the removal of an elected governor unconstitutional during President Jonathan’s tenure, also made it unlawful under President Tinubu.

The party said: “This simple truth, which is anchored in the Nigerian constitution, must not be lost in the fog of political correctness that is currently emanating from Aso Rock. Truth does not respect political correctness, because what is wrong is wrong.

“What made the removal of an elected governor wrong and unconstitutional under President Jonathan in the case of Borno State, is the same that makes it wrong and unconstitutional under President Tinubu in the case of Rivers State. The only thing that has changed is that while one president held the constitution as sacrosanct and inviolable, another feels it could be manipulated to suit narrow political interests.”