The House of Representatives has issued a one-week ultimatum to Governors Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, along with the leadership of their respective State Houses of Assembly, to appear before its Committee on Public Petitions over the controversial suspension of lawmakers in their states.
The warning followed their failure to honour an earlier invitation to a hearing held on Thursday at the National Assembly, Abuja.
The committee is investigating a petition filed by a coalition of lawyers under the banner of Guardians of Democracy concerning the alleged unlawful suspension of 13 lawmakers in Benue and 10 in Zamfara since February 2024.
The petition, sponsored by the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese, was formally laid before the chamber on March 27.
At the inaugural sitting of the committee on Thursday, Hon. Douglas Akya (Makurdi South) led the delegation of suspended Benue lawmakers, while Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara (Talata Mafara South) and the Minority Leader of the Zamfara Assembly represented their colleagues.
Human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the petitioners, Barr. Ihensekhien Samuel Junior, who appeared alongside a 12-member legal team, urged the committee to expedite its hearing of the matter. He clarified that the case was not before any court and, even if it were, the House was within its rights to proceed in the absence of a restraining order.
“In Zamfara, 11 lawmakers have been suspended for over 16 months, allegedly at the directive of the executive. In Benue, 13 lawmakers were also suspended under questionable circumstances,” he said.
He argued that the suspensions raised a critical constitutional issue: whether the remaining lawmakers could form a legitimate quorum for legislative business.
“Where a quorum cannot be formed, the House of Representatives, under its constitutional mandate, can intervene and take over legislative functions in such states,” he added.
Thursday’s session was presided over by the committee’s Vice Chairman, Hon. Nwogu Mathew, who explained that a recent reshuffling in the committee’s leadership had necessitated the adjournment of proceedings.
The hearing was rescheduled to May 14 to allow the invited governors and state assembly leaders to appear.
He said the grace period would also enable the new committee leadership to review all relevant documents and prepare for a balanced and transparent hearing.
It will be recalled that the House had earlier issued a formal summons to the governors and legislative leaders on 2 May 2025, demanding clarification on the suspensions that have effectively paralysed legislative activity in both states. But the Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday rejected the summons, insisting that the state legislature is not subject to oversight by federal lawmakers.(Daily trust)
