The Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, has said the eight lawmakers who recently announced their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been suspended from the House long before their political move….
The Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, has said the eight lawmakers who recently announced their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been suspended from the House long before their political move.
Moriki said the lawmakers were suspended on February 26, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the House and convening an illegal sitting in breach of the Assembly’s Standing Orders.
According to the Speaker, the allegations also included forcibly entering Assembly offices, damaging public property and gaining unauthorised access to the legislative chamber, where they allegedly convened an illegal sitting.
He said the allegations were serious enough to result in a criminal complaint against the lawmakers before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Reacting to their defection, Moriki described it as an attempt to divert public attention from the disciplinary issues that led to their suspension and create the impression that the Assembly was in crisis.
“The Zamfara State House of Assembly is stable, functional and fully engaged in its constitutional responsibilities. The purported defection of members who have remained under suspension cannot be presented as evidence of disarray in the House.
“These members were suspended for alleged gross misconduct and serious violations of the Standing Orders of the House, including allegations bordering on forceful entry into offices of the Assembly, destruction of public property and the convening of an unauthorised legislative sitting.
“Their suspension was therefore not a consequence of their present political decision. It substantially predates their purported defection and arose from disciplinary matters within the Assembly.”
Moriki further disclosed that the Assembly approved on May 13, 2026, the extension of the lawmakers’ suspension for another legislative session because the disciplinary issues remained unresolved.
He said the suspension of two other lawmakers was previously lifted after they apologised to the House, arguing that this demonstrated that the disciplinary measures were not politically motivated.
The Speaker also dismissed claims that the Assembly lacked the capacity to conduct legislative business, saying 16 active lawmakers currently participate in its proceedings.
“The House held its plenary last Tuesday and is scheduled to reconvene tomorrow, Monday. There is therefore no basis whatsoever for portraying the Zamfara State House of Assembly as being in disarray,” he said.
Moriki urged the public to distinguish between the suspended lawmakers’ political decisions and the disciplinary proceedings against them, stressing that changing political affiliation does not invalidate pending legislative or legal matters.
He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to the rule of law, legislative integrity and the protection of public institutions and property.
