House of Assembly rejects 2025 budget
Zamfara State has plunged into a fresh political crisis following the emergence of a parallel House of Assembly formed by 10 lawmakers previously suspended by the current leadership of the state legislature.
The breakaway faction, which convened in Gusau on Wednesday, issued a one-month ultimatum to Governor Dauda Lawal, demanding immediate and decisive action on the worsening security situation in the state or face impeachment proceedings.
The lawmakers, who sat under the speakership of Bashar Gummi (Gummi 1 Constituency), rejected their suspension by Speaker Bilyaminu Moriki, describing it as “illegal, unfounded, and politically motivated”.
They argued that a speaker, who had himself been impeached by 18 out of 24 members, lacked the legitimacy to suspend others.
Speaking after a two-hour session, factional Speaker Gummi said, “We have directed the governor to re-present the 2025 budget within one month. We also sent him a stern warning to end all forms of banditry within one month or face impeachment.”
The lawmakers, drawn from both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, accused the Lawal administration of failing to tackle rampant insecurity across all 14 local government areas.
They also criticised the government for allegedly prioritising frivolous expenditures while poverty, kidnapping, and bandit attacks continue to devastate communities.
“It is disheartening that the government has not paid sympathy visits to victims or families affected by these attacks,” they lamented.
Efforts to obtain official reactions from the Zamfara State Government and the House of Assembly were unsuccessful.
When contacted, the state’s spokesperson, Mustafa Kaura, declined to comment, saying, “This is purely the state Assembly’s affair. You can contact the spokesperson of the state House of Assembly, Bello Madaro.”
Attempts to reach Madaro proved abortive as his phone remained unreachable as of press time.
