Zamfara State has plunged into a new political crisis as 10 recently suspended lawmakers formed a parallel House of Assembly, challenging the authority of the current legislative leadership.
The breakaway faction, which convened in Gusau on Wednesday, issued a one-month ultimatum to Governor Dauda Lawal, demanding immediate and decisive action on the worsening security situation in the state or face impeachment proceedings.
The lawmakers, who sat under the speakership of Bashar Gummi (Gummi 1 Constituency), rejected their suspension by Speaker Bilyaminu Moriki, describing it as “illegal, unfounded, and politically motivated”.
They argued that a speaker, who had himself been impeached by 18 out of 24 members, lacked the legitimacy to suspend others.
Speaking after a two-hour session, factional Speaker Gummi said, “We have directed the governor to re-present the 2025 budget within one month. We also sent him a stern warning to end all forms of banditry within one month or face impeachment.”
The lawmakers, drawn from both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, accused the Lawal administration of failing to tackle rampant insecurity across all 14 local government areas.
They also criticised the government for allegedly prioritising frivolous expenditures while poverty, kidnapping, and bandit attacks continue to devastate communities.
“It is disheartening that the government has not paid sympathy visits to victims or families affected by these attacks,” they lamented
