Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara’s seat in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, which represents the Talata Mafara South Constituency, has been declared vacant because of his extended absence from legislative duties.
The Majority Leader, Hon. Bello Muhammad Mazawajje Tsafe, made the move, and Deputy Speaker, Hon. Adamu Aliyu Gummi, seconded it. The decision was made Tuesday during a plenary session.
A statement signed by Bello Kurya, the chief press secretary of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, revealed this.
According to Kurya, Kagara had only attended 21 of the 180 sitting days, which was a blatant disregard for both the Nigerian Constitution and the Assembly’s standing rules, which mandate that members of the legislature regularly participate in legislative activities.
Several members, including Hon. Ibrahim Garba Liman Fegin Mahe (Gusau II), Hon. Rilwanu Marafa Nagambo Anka (Anka), Hon. Kabiru Mikailu Dangulbi (Maru South), and Hon. Adamu Aliyu Gummi (Gummi II), reportedly supported the motion, highlighting the importance of maintaining legislative discipline and integrity.
But Hon. Halliru Abdullahi Kuturu (Zurmi East) asked the House to look into further disciplinary actions. The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, declared the seat vacant unanimously, citing Sections 101 and 109(2) of the Nigerian Constitution as justification, despite his appeal.
“Several committees were previously established by the Assembly to interact with Hon. Kagara, but all attempts to settle the issue amicably failed,” the statement read.
In a related move, the Assembly directed its Committees on Justice and Agriculture to look into the Zamfara State Fertiliser Blending Plant’s current state and activities.
Within a month, the committees are supposed to present their findings for additional legislative action.
