Ten lawmakers suspended from the Zamfara State House of Assembly have defied the move by establishing a parallel legislative body, calling their suspension illegal and politically motivated.
The legislators — comprising members from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — held a session in Gusau, where they deliberated on urgent state matters, especially the deteriorating security situation. Presided over by Bashar Aliyu Gummi, whom the group recognizes as Speaker following the impeachment of former Speaker Biliyaminu Ismail Moriki, the faction issued a one-month deadline to Governor Dauda Lawal to take firm action against banditry, kidnappings, and related violence.
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.
