A coalition of Nigerian lawyers, under the banner of Save Benue and Zamfara Coalition, has petitioned the National Assembly to assume control of the legislative functions of the Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly, citing constitutional breakdowns and political interference in both states.
During a peaceful protest at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday, the group argued that both state legislatures are currently unable to fulfill their constitutional duties due to internal conflicts and the overreach of their respective governors.
According to the petition, ten Zamfara lawmakers were suspended in February 2023 at the directive of Governor Dauda Lawal for speaking out about the state’s worsening security situation. In Benue, thirteen assembly members were allegedly suspended for resisting Governor Hyacinth Alia’s reported pressure to remove the state’s Chief Judge.
Led by Barrister Sambari Benjamin, the group urged the National Assembly to invoke Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which allows the federal parliament to legislate on behalf of a state when its assembly is incapacitated.
The coalition warned that if the federal legislature does not act swiftly, the crisis could escalate, possibly leading to a state of emergency in both states and threatening broader democratic stability.
Their petition emphasized the need for urgent Senate intervention to prevent a domino effect that could eventually jeopardize all 36 states and the National Assembly itself, arguing that decisive action now would prevent the president from unilaterally declaring emergency rule in these regions.