The Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly have rejected an invitation from the House of Representatives, describing it as unconstitutional and an overstep of federal powers.
Last Friday, the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions summoned the governors of Benue and Zamfara—Hyacinth Alia and Dauda Lawal—as well as the Speakers and leaders of both state assemblies to appear on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The Reps said they must explain why their legislative duties should not be taken over by the National Assembly.
But in a firm response on Tuesday, the Benue State House of Assembly passed a resolution telling its Speaker, Hyacinth Dajoh, not to honour the invitation.
Speaking during the debate, the House Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, said, “Going by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Benue State House of Assembly is not answerable to the National Assembly. Section 101 empowers the House to regulate its own procedure without external interference.”
Other lawmakers supported him. Bemdoo Ipusu suggested the Assembly should go to court, accusing the group that submitted the petition, Guardians of Democracy, of misleading the federal lawmakers. “By implication, the National Assembly is attempting to usurp the functions of a vibrant and duly elected state legislature,” he added.
Another member, Peter Uche, was angry that his name appeared among those allegedly suspended. “This act clearly shows that the National Assembly was misinformed,” he said.
To formalise its stand, the Benue Assembly has taken the matter to the Federal High Court in Makurdi. The case, filed under Suit No. FHC/MKD/CS//45/2025, is set to be heard on May 14.
The suit lists as defendants: the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Michael Etaba; the House of Representatives; and some members of the Guardians of Democracy, including Emmanuel Onwudiwe.
The Benue Assembly is asking the court to declare that it is independent and cannot be taken over unless it is unable to perform its duties, as stated in Section 11(4) of the Constitution. The lawmakers argued that the petition against them is not enough reason for a takeover and called the federal summons unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, in Zamfara State, the House of Assembly also rejected the summons. Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Kabiru Dangulbi, told *The PUNCH* that Governor Dauda Lawal would not appear before the federal lawmakers.
“Governor Dauda Lawal is a law-abiding citizen and will never act against the Constitution,” Dangulbi said. “The invitation by the House of Representatives is illegal and unconstitutional. Our governor will not waste his time on issues that lack legal standing.”
However, unlike Benue, Zamfara lawmakers said they would not go to court. Dangulbi added, “We believe the honourable members will realise their mistake and drop the idea.”
