The 15 members-elect of the Plateau State House of Assembly, belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the state assembly crisis, citing his involvement in similar situations in Ondo, Rivers, and other states.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja after a meeting with the Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, the lawmakers-elect expressed their discontent and stated that they would no longer tolerate any form of impunity.
The crisis stems from the refusal of the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Gabriel Dewang, to swear in the 15 APC members and one Labour Party member who were declared winners of the election in their respective constituencies by the Court of Appeal. Dewang claimed that he had a court injunction restraining him from swearing in the lawmakers-elect, whose victories nullified those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the same elections.
However, Maiyaki Theodore Bala, speaking on behalf of the lawmakers-elect, claimed that there was no court order preventing the speaker from swearing them in, deeming his actions illegal.
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He said, “We deserve the same, if not more, attention from Mr. President and other patriots in resolving the protracted and unabated refusal of the speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly to inaugurate us. Doing so would guarantee constitutionality and ensure the rule of law prevails where no one is above the law.”
“We have run out of patience and are set to defend the legal mandates given to us by our people through every legitimate means, no matter whose ox is gored,” he added.
The lawmakers-elect also called on the Senate President, Inspector General of Police, United Nations, United Kingdom, and other stakeholders to intervene and protect democracy in Nigeria.