Zamfara Assembly crisis: Gov Lawal accused of imposing impunity, suspending constitution

Amid the ongoing crisis in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, a civic group, the Northern Democratic Watch (NDW), has accused Governor Dauda Lawal of imposing impunity and suspending the constitution for selfish reasons.

The group said the governor’s actions have led to a constitutional crisis in the state.

According to NDW President, Amb. Mahmud Abubakar, the governor’s actions have resulted in the emergence of two rival factions of the State House of Assembly, creating a constitutional crisis that has left citizens bewildered and abandoned.

Abubakar cited the unlawful suspension of 10 duly elected members of the House of Assembly without credible legislative procedure or fair hearing, effectively disenfranchising thousands of Zamfara citizens.

The NDW demanded an immediate and independent investigation into the crisis, reinstatement of the suspended lawmakers, nullification of the 2025 budget process, and declaration of emergency rule in Zamfara State to restore law, order and constitutional governance.

The group described the crisis as a fundamental threat to democratic governance in the country, urging the National Assembly to act with courage and urgency to restore democracy and protect citizens’ constitutional rights.

The NDW equally called on President Bola Tinubu to invoke his constitutional powers to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State, temporarily suspending existing political structures to restore peace, stability and constitutional governance.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Abubakar said, “In flagrant violation of the Constitution and the principles of natural justice, ten duly elected members of the Zamfara House of Assembly were suspended indefinitely.

“No credible legislative procedure was followed, no fair hearing was granted, and no constitutional safeguards were respected. These actions, based solely on political differences and personal vendettas, have effectively disenfranchised thousands of Zamfara citizens, stripping them of their constitutional right to representation.

“Worse still, a bizarre situation has emerged where two parallel legislative houses are operating independently of each other, enacting conflicting resolutions, and creating a constitutional nightmare that has left the citizens of Zamfara bewildered and abandoned.

“Under this atmosphere of impunity, the state government has gone ahead to claim the passage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill; a process so compromised, so fraught with illegality, that it calls into question the very foundation of governance and fiscal responsibility in the state.

“The existence of two parallel Houses of Assembly in Zamfara State is not just a local embarrassment; it is a direct assault on Nigeria’s democracy. It is a violation of the rights of the electorate who entrusted their votes to their representatives. It is a repudiation of the rule of law and a dangerous slide into lawlessness that must be urgently arrested.”

Abubakar listed the demands of the Northern Democratic Watch (NDW) towards the resolution of the crisis in Zamfara State.

He said, “Immediate and Independent Investigation: We call on the National Assembly to immediately launch an independent, transparent, and credible investigation into the unlawful suspension of the ten lawmakers and the emergence of parallel legislative factions in Zamfara State.

“We demand the immediate reinstatement of the ten illegally suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly. Their suspension is unconstitutional, illegitimate, and represents an unacceptable violation of their rights and the rights of the people they represent.

“The purported passage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, conducted under such illegal and chaotic circumstances, must be immediately nullified. We urge the National Assembly to supervise a proper legislative process that respects constitutional order, due process, and democratic norms before any budget can be deemed valid in Zamfara State.

“We call on the National Assembly to, without delay, advise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invoke his constitutional powers by declaring a state of emergency in Zamfara State.

“The world is watching. Nigerians are watching. History is watching. The National Assembly must act with courage, patriotism, and urgency.”