House Of Reps

The Federal House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned Dauda Dare, Governor of Zamfara and Hyacinth Alia, Governor of Benue State along with the leadership of their Houses of Assembly to appear before the Committee on Thursday, May 8 to explain why their functions should not be taken over by the House of Representatives.

This is sequel to a petition written by a civil rights organisation, Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law urging the House to take over the functions of the two Houses of Assembly.

The summons, signed by Mike Etaba, Committee Chairman, noted that the invited parties were already aware of the facts of the case. “Ours is to ensure that the rule of Law is upheld at all times. The parties have a wonderful opportunity to state their cases clearly so that Nigerians can know what is going on. Anarchy would never be given any space in our polity” Etaba explained.

The Committee said the summons is in line with sections 88 and 89 (c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The petitioners had raised concerns over what it termed an alarming development in Benue and Zamfara States, characterized by rampant impunity, anarchy, and lawlessness, as well as a blatant attempt to usurp the powers of a coordinate arm of government, demand our prompt and decisive intervention.

They prayed the House, after its investigation, to invoke Section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to urgently take over the functions of the Benue State House of Assembly and the Zamfara State House of Assembly respectively, with a view to restoring constitutional order, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring the protection of fundamental human rights in the affected States.