The Houses of Assembly in Benue and Zamfara states have declined to comply with a summons issued by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, arguing that the move oversteps constitutional boundaries and exceeds the powers of the federal legislature.
Last Friday, the committee summoned the governors of both states—Hyacinth Alia of Benue and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara—along with their respective Speakers and other key members of the state assemblies.
They were directed to appear before the committee on March 8, 2025, to address concerns about their legislative conduct and justify why the National Assembly should not assume their constitutional duties.
However, on Tuesday, the Benue State House of Assembly resolved that its Speaker, Hyacinth Dajoh, should not respond to the invitation, asserting that the summons violates provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
During the deliberation, House Majority Leader Saater Tiseer criticized the invitation, describing it as a clear misunderstanding of constitutional limits.
He emphasized that, under Section 101 of the Constitution, the Benue Assembly is empowered to regulate its affairs independently, without external interference.
Other lawmakers, including Bemdoo Ipusu, Michael Audu, and Peter Uche, supported the stance, reiterating the Assembly’s autonomy. Ipusu went further to suggest legal redress, accusing the petitioners, identified as the Guardians of Democracy, of misleading the federal lawmakers.
Peter Uche also expressed surprise at being listed among allegedly suspended members, insisting he has continued to fulfill his legislative responsibilities, and suggesting the House of Representatives was acting on incorrect information.
In response, the Benue Assembly has taken legal action, filing a suit at the Federal High Court in Makurdi to prevent the National Assembly from taking over its legislative duties.
The case, numbered FHC/MKD/CS//45/2025, will be heard on May 14. Defendants named in the suit include House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the chairman of the public petitions committee, Michael Etaba, the House of Representatives, and members of the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, such as Emmanuel Onwudiwe.
The Benue legislature is asking the court to affirm its constitutional autonomy and declare that the National Assembly lacks the authority to intervene unless the state legislature is unable to perform its functions, as provided under Section 11(4) of the Constitution.
It argued that internal disciplinary measures do not amount to incapacitation, and therefore cannot justify federal intervention.
Meanwhile, in Zamfara, the State House of Assembly has also dismissed the invitation. Kabiru Dangulbi, chairman of the assembly’s committee on information, told The PUNCH that the governor would not appear before the federal committee, calling the summons legally unfounded.
He emphasized that Governor Lawal respects the Constitution and would not engage in proceedings lacking legal merit.
Unlike Benue, however, Zamfara’s assembly will not pursue court action, with Dangulbi expressing hope that the federal lawmakers would eventually reconsider and withdraw the summons.