COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT IN NIGERIA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Prince-Godfrey Omola Godfrey II , James Agebes Ojobo (PhD) and Charlie E. Nwekeaku (PhD)
Volume 9 Issue 2
Abstract
The concept of impeachment is a process that originated from Great Britain and found its way into the colonies of Britain and several states constitution. The subject of impeachment has become a controversial issue since the return of democratic rule to Nigeria in 1999. The subjective interpretation of the impeachment clause in the constitution is a recipe for constitutional crises. The objective of the study is to understand the nature of impeachment as a concept and as it is operated in Nigeria and the United States of America. The constitutional provision of impeachment is to demonstrate that no one is above justice no matter how highly placed. The neo-institutional theory is adopted as the theoretical framework and the paper used the case study method of research and utilised content analysis method to analyse the data obtained for this research endeavour. The similarities and differences of the powers of impeachment between the Nigeria Legislature and United States Congress were established. This paper found that impeachment is the constitution’s final answer to a president who mistakes himself for a monarch. This paper concludes that impeachment occurs and fails because of political conflict, partisan politics, and elites’ struggle. This paper among other things recommends for the amendment of the constitutions to include detailed and precise definitions of impeachable offenses. Key Words: Presidential Impeachment; Legislature; Constitution; Senate
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