‘To avoid emergency rule’ — protesters ask n’assembly to intervene in Zamfara, Benue political crises

A group of lawyers has asked the national assembly to intervene in the political crises rocking Zamfara and Benue states. 

The lawyers made the appeal on Tuesday during a protest at the national assembly complex in Abuja.

BACKGROUND

The Benue and Zamfara house of assemblies have been embroiled in crises that have lingered for months.

The Benue house of 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, there has been a crisis in the house of assembly 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.

‘TO AVOID EMERGENCY RULE’

Sambari Benjamin, who presented a petition on behalf of the lawyers, asked the national assembly to take over the functions of both the Benue and Zamfara houses of assemblies in line with section 11(4) of the 1999 constitution.

Section 11(4) 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.

Benjamin said the crises may lead to the declaration of a state of emergency in the two states if not addressed.

“We write to request the urgent intervention of the senate under your able leadership to forestall the demise of our democracy in instalments,” he said.

“Following the national assembly ratifying the state of emergency that President Bola Tinubu proclaimed in Rivers state, we fear that Benue and Zamfara states are on the way to coming under emergency rule unless urgent constitutional steps are taken to remedy the anomalies that exist in both states.

“Our fears are that all of Nigeria’s 36 states would come under emergency rule if the senate does not step in to demonstrate its commitment to the sustenance and protection of democracy by coming under Section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to take over the functions of the two houses.

“Allowing this situation to continue will end in President Tinubu proclaiming a state of emergency in both places and suspending the assemblies, by which time the national assembly will no longer be able to take over the functions of these states’ house of assembly as constitutionally stipulated.

“By then the national assembly can only ratify the emergency rule as would be proclaimed by Mr President.”

Last week, the house committee on public petition summoned Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, and Dauda Lawal, his Zamfara counterpart, over the political crises in their respective state legislatures.

The committee also invited 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).