Eight lawmakers suspended by the Zamfara State House of Assembly have fled the state, citing threats to their lives by political thugs.
The lawmakers claim they’ve been targeted for exposing the escalating insecurity within Zamfara.
Speaking on behalf of the suspended legislators at a press conference in Zaria, Kaduna State, Bashir Aliyu stated that security agents had been dispatched to pursue them without valid reasons, compelling them to seek refuge.
Aliyu emphasized that their efforts to address the prolonged absence of the Speaker and his deputy from the state, alongside attempts to effect leadership changes within the assembly, were met with hostility instead of support to tackle insecurity.
Highlighting an incident where some of the lawmakers were attacked by thugs affiliated with a local politician during the Deputy Governor’s daughter’s wedding on February 24, Aliyu expressed concern over the deteriorating democratic values in Zamfara.
Moreover, a letter dated March 7, with reference no. ZMHA/ADM/223/Vol. 1, instructed the suspended lawmakers to return official vehicles within seven days to the Clerk of the state assembly.
Aliyu, representing the Gumi 1 constituency, emphasized, “We want to notify all that democracy is in danger in Zamfara State despite the prevailing insecurity and other challenges bedeviling the people of the state.
We hence call for the intervention of key stakeholders to salvage the situation.”
The suspension of the eight lawmakers on February 27 stemmed from allegations of holding an illegal plenary.
The affected legislators include Bashir Aliyu (PDP-Gummi 1), Amiru Keta (PDP-Tsafe West), Nasiru Abdullahi (PDP-Maru South), Bashir Masama (PDP-Bukkuyum North), Faruku Dosara (APC-Maradun 1), Ibrahim Tukur (APC-Bakura Constituency), Shamsudeen Hassan (APC Talata-Mafara North), and Bashiru Sarkin-Zango (PDP-Bungudu West).
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