Reps Committee Adjourns Benue, Zamfara Assembly Crisis Hearing After Being Served Court Documents
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has adjourned its hearing to May 28 in a high-stakes petition urging the National Assembly to take over legislative functions in the crisis-ridden Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Bitrus Laori (PDP–Adamawa), made the announcement during the resumed hearing on Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
According to Laori, the adjournment became necessary after the committee was served court documents indicating that the matter is sub judice, having been filed before the Federal High Court in Makurdi.
“The suit, with case number FHC/MKD/CS/146/2025, was filed on May 5 and is scheduled for hearing on May 19,” Laori stated.
He added that the leadership of the Benue State House of Assembly had also written to the Benue caucuses in both the Senate and House of Representatives, seeking an internal dialogue on the matter.
“In view of these developments, the committee will decide on whether or not to proceed with the petition at the next adjourned date,” Laori said.
The petition before the House of Representatives Committee was filed by a group known as the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law, represented by lawyer Emmanuel Onwudiwe, alongside suspended lawmakers from both Benue and Zamfara.
In Benue, 13 lawmakers were suspended for three months over their opposition to the impeachment of the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, who was accused of gross misconduct and corruption. The suspension has caused a deep rift within the state legislature.
In Zamfara, political tensions exploded in February 2024 when the State Assembly suspended ten lawmakers—four from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and six from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—for allegedly convening an illegal plenary.
The situation spiraled into a leadership tussle, with two lawmakers—Bilyaminu Moriki and Bashar Gummi—each claiming to be the legitimate Speaker. Gummi’s faction even held a parallel session where they purportedly impeached Moriki, a move dismissed as illegal by Moriki’s loyalists, who retaliated by suspending the 10 opposing members.
Despite being formally invited to last week’s hearing, the governors and speakers of both Benue and Zamfara—who are believed to be opposed to the petition—did not appear before the committee.
Meanwhile, the petitioners, including the suspended lawmakers and civil society representatives, were present at the hearing and expressed frustration over the continued turmoil in both state legislatures.
The committee is expected to review the court’s ruling and the outcome of the proposed dialogue among Benue legislators before making a decision when it reconvenes on May 28.
