Ten suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have petitioned the National Assembly, seeking intervention in what they describe as their unlawful suspension.
The lawmakers, drawn from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), were suspended over a year ago following allegations of misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, and holding an illegal sitting.
NEWS BULLETIN reports that of the 24-member Assembly, only 14 legislators, led by Speaker Bilyaminu Moriki, have been conducting legislative activities due to the suspension of the 10 members.
Speaking to journalists in Gusau, one of the suspended lawmakers, Nasiru Abdullahi Maru (representing Maru North constituency), argued that many decisions made by the 14-member Assembly were invalid, as certain legislative matters require a two-thirds majority vote.
He accused Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of orchestrating their suspension for refusing to act as “rubber stamps” for the executive.
“We fully support the last press release by Hon. Kagara and reiterate that the eight of us here have been subjected to undue and illegal suspension simply because we refused to bow to their demands,” he stated.
He further criticized the Assembly’s leadership, questioning how often they had convened to address public interest issues. He alleged that the House now operates in secrecy, only assembling on short notice to fulfil directives from the executive.
“Any lawmaker accused of violating House Standing Rules must be given a fair hearing before any action is taken. The blind, uninformed decisions of these members will not stand,” he added.
The suspended lawmakers called on the National Assembly, security agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to intervene, warning that they may pursue legal action for damages if the situation is not addressed.
