The Zamfara State House of Assembly has declared the seat of the minority leader, Aliyu Ango-Kagara, vacant due to prolonged absenteeism.
The decision was made during a plenary session on Tuesday in Gusau.
Ango-Kagara, who represents Talata-Marafa South under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has reportedly been absent from the assembly for 159 days.
This prompted the majority leader, Bello Mazawaje, to propose a motion to declare the lawmaker’s seat vacant.
Mazawaje stated, “Kagara attended only 21 out of 180 sittings since the house was inaugurated, which violates the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and the standing rules of the House.”
Deputy Speaker Adamu Aliyu also emphasized the need to uphold the house’s rules and constitutional provisions.
However, not all lawmakers agreed with the move. Halliru Kuturu suggested that alternative disciplinary actions should be considered.
Despite the disagreement, Speaker Bilyaminu Moriki ruled that the House had no option but to invoke sections 101 and 109(2) of the Nigerian Constitution, which led to the declaration of Ango-Kagara’s seat as vacant due to absenteeism.
In response, Ango-Kagara rejected the action, calling it unconstitutional.
He argued that the House’s decision was linked to his opposition to the illegal suspension of eight members last year.
He explained, “Eight out of 24 members were suspended for raising security concerns affecting their constituencies. I told the leadership that the suspension was illegal and went against the standing rules and constitution of the House.”
(AFRIPOST)