Six suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing prolonged internal crisis, alleged constitutional breaches, and loss of confidence in the leadership of the legislature.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the lawmakers announced their defection in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, after a strategic meeting where they reviewed what they described as the persistent breakdown of legislative order and due process within the Assembly.
The lawmakers alleged that the Zamfara State House of Assembly no longer operates independently but has become an extension of the executive arm of government under Governor Dauda Lawal. They claimed that their suspension, which occurred nearly two years ago, was illegal and unconstitutional, leaving their constituencies without representation.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the defectors further accused the remaining members of the Assembly of conducting legislative business without the constitutionally required quorum, arguing that such actions invalidate laws and resolutions passed during their absence.
The suspended lawmakers said their decision to form a parallel faction of the Assembly was driven by the need to defend constitutional democracy and expose what they described as executive interference and legislative irregularities in the state.
Those who defected to the APC include the factional Speaker, Hon. Bashar Aliyu Gummi (Gummi I), Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi Maru (Maru North), Barrister Bashir Abubakar (Bukkuyum North), Hon. Bashir Bello (Bungudu West), Hon. Amiru Ahmad Keta (Tsafe West), and Hon. Muktar Nasir Kaura (Kaura North).
The lawmakers called on the National Assembly to urgently intervene in the Zamfara Assembly crisis, urging federal lawmakers to investigate allegations of quorum violations and ensure compliance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Explaining their move to the APC, the lawmakers said they were drawn to the party’s principles of justice, inclusiveness, and internal democracy, which they believe will allow them to better serve their constituents and contribute meaningfully to the development of Zamfara State.
They also cited worsening insecurity in the state and ongoing divisions within the PDP as key factors behind their decision to leave the opposition party, stressing that political stability is critical to addressing Zamfara’s security and development challenges.
After receiving the defection letters, the factional Speaker, Hon. Bashar Aliyu Gummi, congratulated the lawmakers, describing their move as timely and necessary for restoring political balance and legislative integrity in the state.
The lawmakers referenced Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as the legal basis for their defection, maintaining that the internal crisis within the PDP and the Assembly justifies their decision to seek a new political platform.
