The House of Representatives has waded into the worsening crises in Zamfara and Benue States, amid calls for emergency rule in both states.
This comes amid the factionalization of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, with the All Progressives Congress, (APC) lawmakers in the House asking Governor Dauda Lawal to represent the 2025 budget before them.
In the case of Benue State, 13 lawmakers who were opposed to the controversial removal of the State Chief Judge were suspended by their colleagues, worsening tension in the killer-herdsmen ravaged state.
To avert the Rivers State imbroglio, the Reps Committee on Public Petitions has now summoned Governors of both states, Hyacinth Alia and Dauda Lawal, as well as their respective state assemblies to appear before it on Thursday, March 8.
The House, while warning that it would not tolerate anarchy, said the feuding parties have an opportunity to state their case.
The executive and legislative arms of the two states are to appear before the committee to explain why their constitutional functions should not be taken over by the House of Representatives.
The summon was contained in a statement issued by the Head of Media, House Committee on Public Petitions, Chooks Oko, on Friday.
Oko stated that the summon was “sequel to a petition written by a civil rights organisation, Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law urging the House to take over the functions of the two Houses of Assembly.”
The summons, personally signed by Committee Chairman, Mike Etaba noted that the invited parties are already aware of the facts of the case.
According to Etaba, “Ours is to ensure that the rule of law is upheld at all times.
“The parties have a wonderful opportunity to state their cases clearly so that Nigerians can know what is going on.
“Anarchy would never be given any space in our polity.”