- Ultimatum Issued: Benue and Zamfara states are given 72 hours to reinstate suspended lawmakers.
- Legal Action Threat: Failure to comply could lead to a court battle to halt federal allocations.
- Constitutional Crisis: The group alleges the state assemblies lack the legal quorum to function.
Massive Shake-Up Alert: Group Demands Action!
A group called the Concerned Citizens Network for Democracy (CCND) is throwing down the gauntlet! They’ve given the governments of Benue and Zamfara states just 72 hours to bring back all the suspended lawmakers. If they don’t, things could get seriously messy!
Why the Fuss? Constitutional Chaos!
CCND is claiming that the state Houses of Assembly are breaking the Nigerian Constitution. They say that because so many lawmakers are suspended, the assemblies don’t have enough members to make decisions legally. According to sources from the Premium Times, a valid quorum ensures that legislative decisions are representative and legitimate. Premium Times.
The Nuclear Option: Cutting Off the Cash!
The group is not messing around. They’re threatening to go to the Federal High Court to force the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation to stop sending monthly federal allocations to the states. This would be a HUGE blow to Benue and Zamfara!
“A Rape of Democracy” – Strong Words!
Moses Adamu, the Secretary-General of CCND, didn’t hold back. He called the situation “a flagrant abuse of democratic institutions” and a “rape of democracy.” Ouch! He says governors are running states without the necessary legislative backing.
Missing Members: Where Did They Go?
CCND says that almost half the lawmakers in both states have been suspended under shady circumstances. This means the assemblies can’t reach the two-thirds quorum required by law. But somehow, a smaller group of members is still making decisions, even on big stuff like budgets!
No Quorum, No Law!
Adamu is adamant: No House of Assembly can legally operate without meeting the constitutional quorum. If most of the elected representatives are gone, the whole thing becomes illegitimate. Any actions taken under those conditions are legally invalid.
Governors on Thin Ice?
The group argues that Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue and Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara are basically operating without proper legislative approval. This would make their administrations unconstitutional!
Money Talks: Follow the Funds!
CCND believes that cutting off the money supply is the only way to force a resolution peacefully. They argue that public funds are being given to executives who are acting outside the law. The CBN and the Accountant General shouldn’t be funding this illegality, they say.
Like a Company Without a Board!
CCND compared the situation to a private company without a functioning board of directors. No bank would keep giving money to such a company, right? The state assembly is like the people’s boardroom, they say. You can’t just suspend half the directors and pretend everything is normal!
Political Games? Accusations Fly!
The group also raised concerns about the political motives behind the suspensions. They claim that many of the suspended lawmakers were critics of the government, who had raised issues about insecurity, budget spending, and local projects before being removed. According to a report by SBM Intelligence, such actions can undermine democratic processes. SBM Intelligence.
Silenced Voices?
Adamu even claimed that some suspended members in Benue State have been blocked from entering the Assembly and had their allowances taken away without due process.
Wake-Up Call: Don’t Let This Spread!
CCND is warning that if civil society, federal institutions, and the courts stay silent, governors might start doing this everywhere, destroying the system of checks and balances.
The Demand: Reinstate the Lawmakers!
CCND is calling on the state governments to immediately bring back all the suspended lawmakers and restore order to the legislature.
Time’s Ticking: 72 Hours!
The group has made it clear: If nothing happens in 72 hours, they’re heading to court to declare the current assemblies illegal and stop all federal money to both states. This is a high-stakes situation that could have major consequences!