Zamfara Speaker reacts to defection of eight lawmakers from APC

The Speaker of the Zamfara House of Assembly, Hon Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki said the eight members of the Assembly who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been suspended from the House long before their purported defection.

The eight lawmakers had cited alleged injustice, lack of unity, insecurity and poor leadership in the state as reasons for dumping the APC in their respective resignation letters.

The submitted the letters to chairmen of APC in their wards.

However, they have not announced their new political party.

The lawmakers represent Mafara South, Maradun I, Bakura, Bukkuyum North, Gummi I, Bungudu West, Maru North and Kaura Namoda North constituencies.

But in reaction to the defection, the Zamfara Assembly Speaker accused the suspended lawmakers of attempting to divert public attention from the substantive disciplinary issues surrounding their suspension.

He also said the lawmakers were trying to create what he described as erroneous impression of instability within the Assembly.

According to him, the eight lawmakers were suspended on 26 February 2024 over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the House, and convening an illegal sitting in violation of the Standing Orders of the Assembly.

He also listed other accusations against the lawmakers to include actions bordering on burglary, forcible entry, and destruction of public property.

Moriki said the lawmakers had forcefully broken into the offices of the Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms, forcibly gained access to the Legislative Chamber, damaged Assembly property, and thereafter convened an unauthorised sitting.

The Speaker said criminal complaint was filed against the suspended lawmakers before a court of competent jurisdiction following their actions.

“The Zamfara State House of Assembly is stable, functional and fully engaged in its constitutional responsibilities. The purported defection of members who have remained under suspension cannot be presented as evidence of disarray in the House.

“These members were suspended for alleged gross misconduct and serious violations of the Standing Orders of the House, including allegations bordering on forceful entry into offices of the Assembly, destruction of public property and the convening of an unauthorised legislative sitting,” Moriki said.