The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has postponed its hearing regarding the takeover of the Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly until May 28. This decision came after the committee received court documents notifying them that the matter is currently under judicial review. The court case, filed as Suit No. FHC/MKD/CS/146/2025 at the Federal High Court in Makurdi on May 5, 2025, is scheduled to resume on May 19.
Rep. Bitrus Laori (PDP-Adamawa), Chairman of the committee, explained that the adjournment was necessary due to the ongoing legal proceedings and a request for dialogue from the leadership of the Benue State House of Assembly. The Benue leadership had reached out to the Senate and House of Representatives Benue Caucuses, seeking an interaction on the issue.
In Benue, tensions rose after the state’s House of Assembly suspended 13 lawmakers for opposing the removal of Chief Judge Justice Maurice Ikpambese, accused of gross misconduct and corruption. In Zamfara, the political climate has worsened since February 2024, when the Assembly suspended ten lawmakers for holding an illegal plenary session. A leadership crisis in Zamfara has resulted in two lawmakers, Bilyaminu Moriki and Bashar Gummi, both claiming the position of Speaker. This conflict led to a split, with Gummi’s faction impeaching Moriki, while Moriki’s faction suspended ten of Gummi’s supporters.
The petitions before the committee stem from these political crises. However, the governors and speakers of both state assemblies, who were invited to appear, did not attend the hearing. Despite this, the petitioners, represented by lawyer Emmanuel Onwudiwe, and the suspended members from both assemblies, were present. The next hearing will be held on May 28 to decide whether to continue the petition process.
