HeadlineHouse : Confusion As Katsina Lawmakers Exchange Blows

House : Confusion As Katsina Lawmakers Exchange Blows

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SAN FRANCISCO, November 06, (THEWILL) – There was confusion in the House of Representatives on Wednesday as lawmakers from Katsina State in the House engaged one another in a free-for-all over who takes the rightful seat in the chambers.

It all began when one of the eight lawmakers from the state declared as duly elected by an Abuja Appeal Court last Friday stormed the House demanding to be sworn in.

The lawmaker made his way into the chambers at about 11 am waiting to be sworn in; but when some of those sacked by the Appeal Court last Friday saw him, they asked him to leave.

The former lawmaker refused to leave forcing the sacked lawmakers to swoop on him. It soon became a free-for-all affair as the ex-lawmaker had his cloth torn.

It took the intervention of the minority leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Hon. Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila as well as the deputy minority whip, Hon. Garba Datti to restore order to the floor.

The APC leaders went into a meeting with both the restored and sacked lawmakers but the meeting was also short-lived as the ex-lawmakers staged a walk out.

Reacting to the development, one of the affected ex-lawmakers from Funtua, Hon. Muntari Dandutse, accused the lawmakers of not respecting the laws.

“What is happening in this House is very unfortunate. The issue of Katsina 10 is very clear, which is being denied. The law has no barrier. After winning at the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal also faulted the National Assembly and INEC for withdrawing our certificates.

“The appeal court has affirmed that judgement. The court said very clearly that we should repossess our seats, without any hindrance. INEC has no power to issue certificate of return without contesting an election,” he said.

One of the returning lawmakers, Hon. Tasi’u Doguro (Mashi/Dutsi), said: “This is the 13th time we are winning court cases against our opponents. We made sure that National Assembly and INEC were served copies of the judgement by Monday.

“We came yesterday (Tuesday), they said we should come today (Wednesday) to take our seats. But when we came today, we were told another thing that unless we go to Supreme Court, they will not swear us, which means they don’t respect the judgements of Federal High Court and Court of Appeal.

“There is a lot of political blackmail. Actually, what is happening now in the National Assembly; this issue of favouritism is very dangerous. We don’t belong to Masari camp. Masari was a Speaker here. So they are doing him a favour. But that is very unfortunate.”

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Minority Leader said the House would not act until it sees the outcome of the appeal by the current lawmakers in the Supreme Court. He said: “The House will follow procedures, tradition and the law. That is the position of the House. Of course the law supersedes. ”

It will be recalled that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had last Friday sacked two senators and eight members of the House from Katsina State who got their mandate after INEC declared those that initially won the elections in 2011 as non-original occupants.

Saint Mugaga, Abuja

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