The House of Representatives on Friday summoned the Governors of Benue and Zamfara states to appear before its committee on Public Petitions alleging cases of anarchy and demanded the two leaders give convincing reasons why the National Assembly should not take over the functions of their state’s legislatures.
Governor Hyacinth Alia and Governor Dauda Lawal are to appear before the House Committee alongside the leadership of their State Assemblies on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
In the invitation of summon signed by the chairman of the House Committee Public Petition Mike Etaba, the Lawmakers said both Governors are 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 maintained.
NewsQuest reports that the Deputy House Spokesperson Philip Agbese had presented a petition endorsed by over 200 lawyers urging the House to invoke Section 11(4) of Nigeria’s Constitution to take over the legislative functions of Benue and Zamfara State Assemblies due to mass suspensions of lawmakers in the states crippling governance.
The invitation of Governor Alia and Governor Dauda is, therefore, to enable the House actively address the legislative crises in both states through the petition-driven process:
Our correspondent gathered that 13 out of 32 lawmakers in Benue State have been suspended amid disputes over judicial removal while 10 of 21 lawmakers in Zamfara State are also suspended, leading to parallel sittings and accusations of illegality.
Although the petition did not indict the two Governors of any misconduct, it seeks the National Assembly’s intervention in restoring constitutional order in the two States of Benue and Zamfara.
