Lawyers petition reps, seek intervention in Benue, Zamfara assemblies crises

Some lawyers have petitioned the house of representatives over the political crisis in the Benue and Zamfara house of assemblies.

Philip Agbese, deputy spokesperson of the house, submitted the petition on behalf of the petitioners during Thursday’s plenary session.

The Benue assembly recently suspended 13 lawmakers for three months for allegedly opposing the removal of Maurice Ikpambese, the state’s chief judge, whom they accused of gross misconduct and corruption.

The suspended lawmakers were said to have voted for Ikpambese’s removal but later dissociated themselves from the decision, citing procedural irregularities.

In Zamfara, the house of assembly has been embroiled in a crisis following the suspension of 10 lawmakers — six from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and four from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

These suspensions were initiated in February 2024. Eight members were initially suspended for alleged violations of the assembly’s rules, and later, the minority leader’s seat was declared vacant.

Presenting the petition, Agbese, an APC member, stated that the petitioners — over 200 lawyers — are urging the house to intervene in the crisis or assume the functions of the assemblies, in accordance with section 12 of the constitution.

“I bring to your attention a distressing petition received in my office, highlighting the precarious situation in Benue and Zamfara states,” Agbese said.

“The petition, endorsed by over 200 lawyers, fervently urges the house of representatives to take immediate and decisive action to safeguard democracy in Nigeria.

“Your excellency, I am afraid but the inaction of this parliament in the Rivers state affair led to the declaration of a state of emergency, a precedent that we must not allow to recur.

“If we continue to remain passive, we risk perpetually ceding our constitutional responsibilities to the executive, thereby reducing our role to mere rubber-stamp.

“Mr speaker, the alarming developments in Benue and Zamfara states, characterised 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.

“The petitioners are, therefore, praying 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.

“Your excellency, time is of the essence, and I urge you to treat this matter with the utmost urgency and gravity it deserves. Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter.”

Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker who presided over plenary, referred the petition to the committee on public petition for further legislative action.