Mr. Dauda Lawal, the governor of Zamfara State, and Rev. Hyacinth Alia, the governor of Benue State, are contesting the legitimacy of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions’ summons.
The committee had requested the governors, along with their state legislatures, to appear before them to address purported constitutional breaches and failures in governance within their respective states.
Persecondnews recalls that the invitation was contained in a statement issued by the Head of Media, House Committee on Public Petitions, Chooks Oko, on Friday.
The lawmakers had sought explanations from the governors and the houses on issues ranging from legislative suspensions to deteriorating security, and why the National Assembly should not take over the functions of the affected houses as permitted under Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
For instance in Benue State, there was the controversial suspension of 13 members of the state assembly who were not loyal to the governor.
It was gathered that the lawmakers were suspended for rejecting the suspension of the State Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, by the governor.
The situation in Zamfara takes a complex turn with the emergence of a parallel state assembly. Despite their suspension, nine lawmakers assert their ongoing legitimacy.
Operating under a separate leadership, this faction recently called upon Governor Lawal to present the 2025 budget, underscoring their insistence on carrying out their legislative responsibilities.
Both Zamfara and Benue states have unfortunately become central points for enduring insecurity, each grappling with deep-seated security crises that have intensified in recent years.
Zamfara is currently struggling with relentless attacks from bandits who operate throughout its forests and rural areas, engaging in widespread abductions, cattle theft, and extortion.
Benue, often celebrated as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has been a focal point for violent confrontations between farming communities and armed herders, resulting in tragic loss of life.
Speaking on the invitation, a top government Benue State official said the government was already studying it and considering if the National Assembly had the constitutional right to invite a governor and members of the House of Assembly.
“This is a constitutional matter, and the government needs to find out if the National Assembly has oversight functions on the state government and its state assembly.
“I think the law will answer that, so the attorney general would soon respond to that,” he said.
Contacted, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hyacinth Dajoh, said he has yet to receive the formal invitation.
“It’s all a social media issue. I am yet to receive the invitation letter, maybe the letter may reach my office tomorrow (Monday), I cannot say. But as I am talking to you now, it’s a mere media issue and I cannot respond to it,” he said.
Mustafa Kaura, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lawal on Media and Communications, insisted that the National Assembly had no constitutional right to invite a serving governor to appear before it.
“The National Assembly, whether Senate or the House of Representatives, cannot invite the governor on issues relating to his state. Only the state assembly has the power to invite a governor to appear before it,” he also said.
Meanwhile, the nine-member faction of the Zamfara State House of Assembly has vowed to continue sitting, despite alleged intimidation and harassment by the government.
In a statement on Sunday, signed by the member representing Talata-Mafara South Constituency, Aliyu Kagara, the faction said its members would continue to work in the spheres of their mandate as lawmakers in the state.
“We in the Zamfara State parallel House of Assembly under the eminent leadership of Hon Bashar Aliyu Gummi wish to categorically state and inform the good people of the state that we shall continue to work in the spheres of our mandate as lawmakers of our dear state and representatives of our respective constituents.
“No amount of intimidation from the state government, including the use of some so-called politically twisted courts or legal officers, can derail our focused leadership.
“We are aware of the malicious actions against us by the state government and have written petitions against the Dauda Lawal-led administration to security agencies, both at the state and national levels,” the statement said.
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