The Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, has said the eight lawmakers who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress were already under suspension before announcing their change of political affiliation.
Moriki, in a statement on Sunday, said the lawmakers were suspended on February 26, 2024, following allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the House and violation of the Assembly’s Standing Orders.
According to him, the allegations against the lawmakers included forceful entry into offices of the Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms, destruction of public property and the convening of an unauthorised sitting of the House.
He said the alleged misconduct was serious enough to prompt the filing of a criminal complaint against the affected lawmakers before a competent court.
Reacting to their recent defection, the Speaker described it as an attempt to divert public attention from the disciplinary proceedings against them and create the impression that the Assembly was engulfed in crisis.
Moriki insisted that the Zamfara Assembly remained stable and fully functional, stressing that the political decision of the suspended lawmakers had no bearing on the disciplinary action taken against them.
“Their suspension was therefore not a consequence of their present political decision. It substantially predates their purported defection and arose from disciplinary matters within the Assembly,” he said.
The Speaker further disclosed that the House, on May 13, 2026, approved the extension of the lawmakers’ suspension for another legislative session because the disciplinary issues remained unresolved.
He noted that two other lawmakers who had previously been suspended were later reinstated after tendering apologies to the House, arguing that the disciplinary measures were therefore not politically motivated or targeted at any particular political affiliation.
Moriki also dismissed claims that the Assembly was unable to discharge its legislative responsibilities, saying the House currently had 16 active members and continued to conduct its affairs in line with the Constitution and its Standing Orders.
“The House held its plenary last Tuesday and is scheduled to reconvene tomorrow, Monday. There is therefore no basis whatsoever for portraying the Zamfara State House of Assembly as being in disarray,” he said.
He urged the public to distinguish between the lawmakers’ political choices and the disciplinary proceedings arising from their alleged misconduct.
According to him, changing political parties does not automatically terminate legislative disciplinary proceedings or pending legal cases connected to alleged offences.
The Speaker reaffirmed the commitment of the Assembly’s leadership and members to upholding the rule of law, protecting legislative integrity and safeguarding public institutions and property.
