The eight (8) suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have called for the immediate intervention of the National Assembly to rescue them from alleged threats of arrest and harassment by security operatives and political thugs, forcing them to go into hiding.
The affected lawmakers, who made this known at a news conference in Zaria on Sunday, described the recent development as illegal and a flagrant infringement on their legislative immunity.
The leader of the group, Bashir Aliyu, who represents the Gummi 1 constituency, explained that the affected members were illegally suspended and harassed for exposing a high level of insecurity in the state and the prolonged absence of the speaker and his deputy from the state.
However, he said that in an effort to align themselves with constitutional provisions and yearnings for peace in a state ravaged by insecurity, 8 out of 24 State Assembly members were suspended.
Aliyu then called on the leadership of NASS to come to their rescue as he alleged political thugs have been used to attack some of the suspended members, saying that during a wedding ceremony, some of the suspended members (Shamsudeen Basko) were attacked by thugs.
He also alleged that security personnel were tracing the suspended members at their various houses with a view to arresting them, which forced them to go into hiding.
In what can be described as an additional infringement on their legislative immunity, the suspended members were served letters reference No. ZMHA/ADM/223/Vol. 1 dated March 7, 2024, instructing them to return official vehicles given to them to the office of the Clerk of Assembly within seven days.
“We want to notify you that democracy is in danger in our dear sympathetic state despite insecurity, poverty, and other challenges bedevilling the state, hence the call for the intervention of the National Assembly and relevant stakeholders to salvage the situation.
Recalls that on Feb. 27, the Zamfara State House of Assembly suspended eight lawmakers for alleged violations of the Assembly’s Order 10, Rule 9.
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