The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked a member of the state House of Assembly whose seat was declared vacant to contest the illegal decision in court.
The party said the Assembly has no powers to suspend or declare the seat of any lawmaker vacant as recently made clear by the Supreme Court.
The state APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, however, said they were not surprised by the decision of the PDP-led Assembly, but vowed that the illegality will not stand.
The Zamfara Assembly had declared the seat of Aliyu Ango-Kagara vacant due to alleged absenteeism.
Ango-Kagara has been prevented from attending the sittings of the Assembly for 11 months after he was suspended by the House.
In spite of that, the seat of the lawmaker representing Talata-Marafa South constituency, was declared vacant by the Speaker, Bilyaminu Moriki on the pretext that he was absent from the house for 159 days.
However, not all members were in agreement, with Halliru Kuturu suggesting that the parliament should explore alternative disciplinary measures against the lawmaker.
In his response, Ango-Kagara dismissed the assembly’s decision as unconstitutional, and a resort to “jungle justice”.
He said the Assembly has been uncomfortable with his decision to challenge the illegal suspension of eight members of the assembly who had raised their voices on the dire security situation in their constituencies.
“Eight out of 24 members were suspended by the house last year for raising concern over the security issues affecting their constituencies.
“I have told the leadership of the house to stop the illegal suspension of lawmakers; it is against the house standing rules and constitution,” Ango-Kagara said.