Reps panel invites Dauda Lawal, Alia over Zamfara, Benue assemblies crises

A house of representatives committee has summoned Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, and Dauda Lawal, his Zamfara counterpart, over the political crises in the two states’ assemblies.

The committee on public petition also summoned the speakers and leadership of both assemblies.

The panel issued the summon following a petition filed by the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, a civil society organisation (CSO).

In a statement issued on Friday, Chooks Oko, the committee’s head of media, said those summoned are expected to appear before the panel on May 8.

BACKGROUND

The Benue and Zamfara assemblies have been involved in protracted crises that have dragged on for months.

The Benue assembly recently suspended 13 lawmakers for three months for allegedly opposing the removal of Maurice Ikpambese, the state’s chief judge, whom they accused of gross misconduct and corruption.

The suspended lawmakers were said to have voted for Ikpambese’s removal but later dissociated themselves from the decision, citing procedural irregularities.

In Zamfara, the house of assembly has been embroiled in a crisis over the suspension of 10 lawmakers — six from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and four from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The suspensions were initiated in February 2024. Eight members were initially suspended for alleged violations of the assembly’s rules, and later, the minority leader’s seat was declared vacant.

THE PETITION

In the petition, the CSO asked the parliament to invoke section 11(4) of the 1999 constitution to take over the functions of the Benue and Zamfara house assemblies to restore order.

The section of the constitution states that when a house of assembly is unable to perform its functions by “reason of the situation prevailing in that state,” the national assembly may make laws for the good governance of such state until such assembly can resume its duties.

Oko said the governors and speakers are required to explain why the house of representatives should not take over the functions of the assemblies.

He said Mike Etaba, chairman of the committee, “personally signed the summons” issued to the parties.

“Ours is to ensure that the rule of law is upheld at all times. The parties have a wonderful opportunity to state their cases clearly so that Nigerians can know what is going on. Anarchy would never be given any space in our polity,” Oko quoted Etaba as saying.

CAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SUMMON A GOVERNOR?

Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 constitution empower the national assembly to summon any person in Nigeria for investigative purposes.

However, legal experts argue that the parliament cannot summon governors, given that they are protected by immunity from civil and criminal proceedings and are primarily accountable to their respective state assemblies, not the national assembly.