Sixteen lawmakers-elect from the ruling All Progressives Congress in Plateau State have asked President Bola Tinubu to get involved in the political crisis at the state House of Assembly by advising the Speaker, Gabriel Dewan.
The upset lawmakers-elect, who have not been sworn in due to a court decision, have accused Governor Caleb Mutfwang and Dewan of intentionally disobeying the court order by allowing the state assembly to go on a recess for over five months.
After meeting with the APC National Working Committee at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Theodore Maiyaki, speaking on behalf of the group, told reporters that they were losing patience.
Maiyaki also requested the timely involvement of the President to prevent the situation from escalating into a full-blown crisis in the state.
He stated, “The speaker has prevented us – the rightful 16 members – from carrying out our constitutional legislative and oversight responsibilities as outlined in Sections 100 and 109 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) with this single action.
“This unacceptable situation has left many of our people without a voice in governance. This is clearly a violation of democratic principles and must be opposed vigorously.
“We have been patient not because we are weak or uncertain about the validity of our mandates, but because of the Speaker's refusal to recognize us as members-elect of the House of Assembly and his refusal to inaugurate us, as mentioned in a recent interview on Arise TV. What insolence!”
Maiyaki questioned whether a different form of democracy is being practiced in Plateau State compared to other states.
He called for the President’s intervention, highlighting Tinubu's successful involvement in crises in Ondo, Rivers, and Edo states.
“We are concerned about whether the democracy in Plateau State differs from that of other states. We remember President's intervention in the crises in Ondo, Rivers, and most recently in the Edo states, which provided relief and guidance to those states.
“We deserve the same, if not more, intervention from the President and other patriots in the refusal of the Speaker of the House of Assembly to inaugurate us,” he said.
“We will bring this matter to the attention of all concerned parties from President Bola Tinubu; and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
“We urge them to instruct the obstinate Speaker of Plateau House of Assembly to promptly convene the House, which has been on recess for about five months, and inaugurate the 16 legitimate members returned by INEC without any further delay to prevent any law and order issues,” Maiyaki added.
