Crisis rocks Zamfara Assembly as lawmakers hold dual sittings, issue ultimatum to Gov Lawal

In a bold and unprecedented move, ten lawmakers suspended from the Zamfara State House of Assembly have defied their suspension by forming a parallel legislative body, declaring the action against them as both illegal and politically motivated.

The group made up of members from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convened in Gusau, the state capital, where they held a session focused on pressing issues, particularly the escalating security crisis in Zamfara.

The session was presided over by Bashar Aliyu Gummi, whom the faction has named as Speaker following the impeachment of former Speaker Biliyaminu Ismail Moriki. During the sitting, the lawmakers issued a one-month ultimatum to Governor Dauda Lawal, demanding decisive action to curb the rising wave of banditry, kidnappings, and violence across the state.

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The lawmakers criticized the state government for what they described as a weak and indifferent response to the security crisis and urged it to change its strategy while fully backing security forces.

They also raised concerns about the underfunding and poor welfare of local security outfits like the Security Protection Guards, known as Askarawa.

Challenging the legality of their suspension, the group pointed out that a Speaker impeached by a clear majority of 18 out of 24 members should not wield the authority to suspend colleagues.

In a bold accusation, they alleged that close allies of the Governor from Niger, Kaduna, and Adamawa states had purchased multi-billion-naira properties shortly after visiting Zamfara, implying potential financial misconduct within the administration.

Their meeting also addressed broader governance issues, including what they termed constitutional violations and the unjustified dismissal of state civil servants.

(DailyPost)