Zamfara Parallel Assembly Pledges to Continue Legislative Work Amid Alleged Intimidation
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The factional Zamfara State House of Assembly, led by Bashar Aliyu Gummi, has pledged to continue its legislative duties despite what it describes as ongoing intimidation and interference.
In a statement released by Aliyu Ango Kagara, the member representing Talata Mafara South Constituency, the group accused the state government of using politically motivated court actions and legal officers to obstruct their operations.
Kagara alleged that Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration is orchestrating a campaign of “malicious actions” against the parallel assembly. He said petitions have already been submitted to security agencies at both state and national levels to address their concerns.
He criticized the faction of the Assembly led by Bilyaminu Moriki, citing their “unconstitutional” suspension from legislative duties for over a year as a blatant disregard for democratic norms.
Kagara also disclosed that while some former Assembly leaders had been tasked with mediating the crisis, the state government allegedly rushed to secure arrest orders from a lower court, even as a related case remains pending at the Court of Appeal in Sokoto.
He singled out Justice Halima Jaafar Mikaila for allegedly issuing an arrest warrant without due process. “The court order was issued in haste, with one of the dates mistakenly marked as 2024,” Kagara said. “Even more troubling, the order failed to specify which agency should carry out the arrest—suggesting it might be intended for execution by the governor’s so-called attack squad.”
Despite these challenges, the group reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law and vowed to continue representing their constituents without yielding to threats or political pressure.