The Concerned Citizens Network for Democracy (CCND) has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly to reinstate all suspended lawmakers or face legal action aimed at halting monthly statutory allocations to the two states.
In a statement released in Abuja and signed by the group’s Secretary-General, Moses Adamu, CCND accused the state governments of presiding over an ongoing constitutional breach. According to Adamu, both Houses of Assembly currently lack the legal quorum required to function effectively and pass appropriation laws.
The group threatened to file a lawsuit at the Federal High Court, seeking to compel the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold monthly FAAC disbursements until constitutional order is restored.
“This is not just an internal legislative matter. It is a clear case of abuse of democratic institutions, where state governors, in collaboration with the speakers, are running their states without the minimum legislative legitimacy required by law. It is a rape of democracy,” Adamu stated.
CCND alleged that both Benue and Zamfara Assemblies unlawfully suspended nearly half of their members, resulting in an insufficient number of lawmakers to meet the constitutionally required two-thirds quorum. Despite this, the remaining minority legislators continue to deliberate and pass critical motions, including budget-related matters.
“No House of Assembly can validly function, debate, or legislate without a legal quorum. When the majority of duly elected lawmakers are suspended under questionable circumstances, the assembly ceases to be legitimate. This undermines every law, appropriation, and oversight action carried out by the remaining minority members,” Adamu added.
The group further claimed that the direct consequence of this illegality is that Governors Hyacinth Alia of Benue and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara are currently running governments without the endorsement of their state assemblies as constitutionally required.
“Without a legally constituted assembly, any action taken by the executive lacks the moral and legal seal of the people. These governors are not kings. They are elected heads of government, expected to govern with legislative oversight and institutional balance,” he added.
CCND stressed that the only peaceful and constitutional way to address the ongoing abuse is by applying financial pressure through the suspension of monthly allocations until the legislative crisis is resolved.
“Public funds are being released to state executives who are acting outside of constitutional provisions. The CBN and the Accountant General of the Federation must not continue to fund illegality. By continuing to disburse FAAC allocations to Benue and Zamfara states, federal institutions are aiding and abetting constitutional violations,” the statement read.
The group likened the situation to a private company operating without a functioning board of directors, arguing that no legitimate financial institution would continue to release funds under such circumstances.
“The state Houses of Assembly are the people’s boardrooms. You cannot suspend half the directors and claim to be conducting lawful business,” it said.
Beyond the constitutional breach, CCND raised concerns about the political intimidation behind the suspensions. According to the group, suspended lawmakers in both states are vocal critics of the executive arm and were sidelined after raising issues about security, budget implementation, and constituency project transparency.
“This is not about disorderly conduct or gross misconduct as the speakers claim. This is about silencing opposition, clearing the path for unchecked control, and removing voices that demand transparency. It is dictatorship in democratic clothing,” the group said.
Adamu revealed that some suspended lawmakers in Benue were denied access to the assembly complex and had their benefits frozen without due process.
CCND warned that failure by civil society, federal institutions, and the judiciary to address the situation could set a dangerous precedent where governors, in collaboration with pliant speakers, cripple state assemblies and rule without accountability.
“If this pattern continues unchecked, governors across the country will see it as a playbook: suspend dissenters, shrink the assembly, rule without scrutiny, and get paid for it. Nigeria’s democracy is too fragile to permit such a loophole,” the statement concluded.
CCND gave the governments of Benue and Zamfara three days to recall all suspended members and restore constitutional balance to their assemblies.
“If by the end of 72 hours there is no concrete step to resolve this, our lawyers will file a suit asking the Federal High Court to declare the current assemblies illegal and compel the federal government to freeze statutory allocations until due process is restored,” Adamu warned.
