- Fifteen APC members-elect of the Plateau State House of Assembly urged President Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing assembly crisis
- They expressed dissatisfaction with the speaker’s refusal to swear them in and called for adherence to the rule of law
Following a meeting with the Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC in Abuja, the lawmakers-elect voiced dissatisfaction with the situation and declared their unwillingness to tolerate further disregard for due process.
The crisis stems from Speaker Gabriel Dewang’s refusal to swear in the 15 APC members-elect and one Labour Party member, despite their victories as declared by the Court of Appeal. Dewang cited a court injunction allegedly preventing him from inaugurating these lawmakers-elect, whose wins invalidated those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the same elections.
However, Maiyaki Theodore Bala, speaking on behalf of the lawmakers-elect, refuted Dewang’s claim, asserting that no court order exists to justify the speaker’s actions, which they deemed unlawful.
“We expect Mr. President and other stakeholders to give us the attention needed to resolve the prolonged refusal of the Plateau State House of Assembly speaker to inaugurate us. This would uphold constitutionalism and ensure adherence to the rule of law,” Bala stated.
Expressing their impatience with the situation, the lawmakers-elect affirmed their determination to uphold their legal mandates through every lawful means available, regardless of any opposition they may face.
Furthermore, they called upon the Senate President, the Inspector General of Police, and international entities, such as the United Nations and the United Kingdom, to intervene and safeguard democracy in Nigeria.