A former governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has faulted the House of Representatives for summoning the state’s governor and leadership of the State House of Assembly, describing the move as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
Speaking on behalf of the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD), Shinkafi, who is also a former National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), reacted to a statement by the House Committee on Public Petitions dated May 2, 2025. The statement, signed by the committee’s Head of Media, Chooks Oko, revealed plans to summon the governors of Zamfara and Benue States and their Assembly leaders to appear before the committee on May 8.
According to Shinkafi, the committee’s invitation followed a petition by a group, Guardians of Democracy and the Rule of Law, which urged the National Assembly to assume legislative control over the two states’ assemblies. He, however, insisted that such action oversteps the constitutional limits of the National Assembly.
“The House Committee on Public Petitions lacks the constitutional authority to summon a democratically elected governor or state assembly leaders over purely internal state matters,” Shinkafi argued, citing relevant sections of the Nigerian Constitution.
Quoting Sections 88 and 89, he acknowledged the investigative powers of the National Assembly but emphasized that such powers are restricted to matters concerning federal laws, federal institutions, or appropriation of federal funds—not issues within the exclusive domain of state governments.
“Nigeria operates a federal system with distinct responsibilities for the federal, state, and local governments. The Constitution clearly outlines their duties, and any interference violates the doctrine of separation of powers,” he said.
Shinkafi further invoked Section 11(4) and (5) of the Constitution, explaining that unless a state’s House of Assembly is unable to perform its functions—which is not the case in Zamfara—the National Assembly cannot assume legislative control.
He said the Zamfara House of Assembly remains functional, with 15 out of 24 members actively holding sessions. The temporary suspension of nine members for rule violations, he argued, does not render the legislature nonfunctional.
“The Assembly is performing its legislative duties. There is no civil unrest or constitutional crisis. The claim of dysfunction is a fabrication by political actors bent on destabilizing the state ahead of the 2027 elections,” he alleged.
Shinkafi criticized the House Committee for relying on what he called a “biased and jaundiced narrative” without conducting an independent fact-finding mission to Zamfara. He called on the lawmakers to instead focus on engaging national security agencies to strengthen public safety, referencing Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, which makes the security and welfare of the people the primary purpose of government.
He also hailed ongoing military efforts against banditry in Zamfara, noting that the security situation in the state has significantly improved.
“The path to strengthening democracy is through lawful engagement, not reckless political maneuvering. Citizens with grievances should seek redress in court, not incite anarchy by exploiting national institutions,” Shinkafi said.
He urged the National Assembly to guard against setting a dangerous precedent that could undermine Nigeria’s democracy, stressing the need to uphold constitutional values after over two decades of uninterrupted democratic governance.
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