The House of Representatives has issued a one-week ultimatum to Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, alongside the leadership of their respective State Houses of Assembly, to appear before its Committee on Public Petitions.
This follows the controversial suspension of several lawmakers in both states.
The ultimatum comes after the failure of the invited parties to attend a hearing held Thursday at the National Assembly in Abuja.
The committee is investigating a petition submitted by the Guardians of Democracy, a coalition of lawyers, over the alleged unlawful suspension of 13 lawmakers in Benue and 10 in Zamfara since February 2024.
The petition, sponsored by Deputy House Spokesperson Hon. Philip Agbese, was formally presented on the House floor on March 27.
At the committee’s inaugural sitting on Thursday, Hon. Douglas Akya (Makurdi South) led the group of suspended Benue lawmakers, while Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara (Talata Mafara South) and the Minority Leader of the Zamfara Assembly represented their affected colleagues.
Lead counsel for the petitioners, human rights lawyer Barr. Ihensekhien Samuel Junior, appeared with a 12-member legal team and urged the committee to expedite its inquiry.
He stressed that the matter is not pending in any court, and even if it were, the absence of a restraining order permits the House to proceed.
“In Zamfara, 11 lawmakers have been suspended for over 16 months, allegedly on the orders of the executive. In Benue, 13 lawmakers faced suspension under similarly questionable circumstances,” Ihensekhien said.
He argued that the suspensions present a fundamental constitutional crisis, questioning whether the remaining lawmakers can form a valid quorum for legislative business.
“Where a quorum cannot be established, the Constitution empowers the House of Representatives to intervene and assume legislative authority in the affected states,” he stated.
Thursday’s hearing was presided over by the committee’s Vice Chairman, Hon. Nwogu Mathew, who noted that recent changes in the committee’s leadership necessitated an adjournment to May 14.
He said the extension would allow time for a thorough review of relevant documents and ensure a fair and transparent process.
The House had earlier issued formal summonses on May 2 to both governors and their assemblies, demanding explanations for the suspensions, which have effectively crippled legislative operations in Benue and Zamfara.
However, the Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday rejected the summons, insisting that state legislatures are not subject to oversight by the National Assembly.