by Nurat Uthman
The House of Representatives has moved to intervene in the political impasse in Plateau state house of assembly.
The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during the plenary session on Tuesday after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Idris Wase from Plateau state.
In November 2023, the legislators who were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were sacked by the appeal court over a lack of party structure.
The election of Caleb Mutfwang, governor of the state, was also nullified by the court for the same reason.
However, Mutfwang’s sack was reversed by the supreme court on January 12. The apex court ruled that the appeal court erred in its judgment.
The court ruled that All Progressives Congress (APC) members who came second in the state assembly election should be sworn in instead.
In April 2024, Gabriel Dewan, speaker of the Plateau house of assembly, swore in nine members of the APC and left out seven
Moving the motion, Wase said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued certificates of return to the new members in compliance with the order of the appeal court.
Wase alleged that the remaining members yet to be sworn in “are being compelled by the speaker to submit letters of resignation accompanied by court affidavits as a condition for their swearing-in”.
“This act undermines the principles of democracy, especially at a time when Nigeria is celebrating 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance,” he said.
“The current situation, where some of the new members were selected and sworn in by the speaker of the Plateau state house of assembly while others have not been sworn in, contradicts the principles of fairness and justice that our electoral laws seek to uphold.
“The failure to address the delays or biases in the swearing-in of these new members-elect is a total denial of the voices of other constituencies in Plateau state, undermines our commitment to justice, fairness, and the principles of democracy, and poses a threat to security in the state.”
The motion was unanimously adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.
Consequently, the lawmakers asked the leadership of the national assembly to intervene and ensure that the remaining members of the state assembly were sworn “for equity, fairness, and justice”.
