The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the decision of the State House of Assembly to declare the seat of Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara, the Minority Leader and member representing Talata Mafara South Constituency, vacant.
The party described the move as an abuse of office, a political witch-hunt, and an attempt to suppress opposition voices in the legislature.
In a statement signed by the Zamfara State APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, the party demanded that the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, immediately rescind the decision or face legal action.
“The declaration of Hon. Kagara’s seat as vacant is a gross embarrassment stemming from ignorance and a deliberate effort to eliminate APC representation from the House,” the statement read.
The APC accused the PDP-dominated Assembly of consistently targeting opposition members, citing the suspension of nine lawmakers in January 2024 for raising security concerns affecting their constituents.
The party noted that these members’ salaries and allowances were also withheld without due process.
Furthermore, the APC argued that the declaration of Kagara’s seat as vacant was unconstitutional, stating that the legislative calendar runs from June to June each year.
The party highlighted that the Assembly had been on recess since September 2024 due to renovations, with sittings occurring only briefly for the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
“Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara was inaugurated as a member of the 7th Assembly on June 8, 2023. The current legislative year spans from June 2024 to June 2025, and the House has only sat for two months due to the recess. Declaring his seat vacant is an act of ignorance that disregards constitutional procedures,” the statement added.
The APC also accused the House leadership of operating in secrecy and acting as a rubber stamp for the state government.
The party insisted that any disciplinary action against a member must follow due process, including a fair hearing.
The statement further called on the National Assembly to intervene and cautioned the Zamfara State House of Assembly against actions that could lead to legal consequences, including claims for damages and a public apology.
