The principle of separation of powers between the arms of government as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended was literally trampled on recently during the inauguration of the 7th Nasarawa State House of Assembly and election of its presiding officers.

The newly elected members of the State Assembly had hoped to elect their leaders independently, that is, without interference from any quarters.

Unfortunately, as a result of power play by the political bigwigs in the state, the independence of the legislature could not be respected.

Less than 24 hours to the inauguration, a postponement was announced unofficially citing insecurity. However, perceiving treachery, Daniel Ogah Ogazi, representing Kokona East constituency, and 12 of his supporters stationed themselves at the entrance of the State Assembly Complex, venue of the inauguration.  But security operatives had barricaded the entrance and refused to grant them access into the chamber. 

However, while Ogazi and his team were still insisting on accessing the complex, the faction of the former speaker, Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, sneaked into a building in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, which is about 500 metres away from the complex, and carried out their inauguration under tight security. Journalists and other stakeholders were not even allowed to observe their proceedings.

When the Ogazi faction got wind of that, they forced their way into the Assembly chamber and elected Ogazi as Speaker and Mohammed Oyanki as Deputy Speaker. After that, the Ogazi faction suspended Balarabe and his loyalists from the Assembly. The suspension was sequel to a motion of public importance moved by the member representing Obi II Constituency, Luka Iliya Zhekaba and seconded by Ibrahim Aliyu Nana, representing Keffi West Constituency.

Moving the motion, Zhekaba averred that the absence of the 10 members from Tuesday’s proceeding amounted to deserting their legislative duty, hence the need to treat them as deserters.

According to Zhekaba, the lawmakers in the Balarabe-Abdullahi faction needed to be duly punished for “convening a kangaroo and illegal meeting, and the purported election of a speaker and a deputy speaker respectfully.”

He, therefore, urged the House to suspend the affected persons and bar them from entering the premises of the Assembly complex till further notice.

Also contributing, Nana re-echoed the position of Zhekaba, further urging the House to take a decisive decision to compel the immediate past speaker, Balarabe-Abdullahi from parading himself as the speaker of the Assembly.

The factional speaker, Ogazi, then put the matter to voice vote and all members present supported the motion after which the House adjourned.

Speaking with journalists after the sitting, Ogazi explained that all actions coming after a proclamation by Governor Abdullahi Sule and all other proceedings must take place in the hallowed chamber of the Assembly, adding that anything done outside the chamber was illegal, null and void.

He noted that the action of the members was contrary to Section 105 of the 1999 Constitution.

“This morning, based on a motion of public importance moved by the member representing Obi II, Luka Iliya Zhekaba and seconded by Aliyu Nana representing Keffi West, members are satisfied that these 10 members erred, because what they did was contrary to Section 105 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“The members-elect are still members-elect; the House barred them from entering this premises and suspended them forthwith. 

“Also, they should be prevented from parading themselves as speaker, deputy speaker and members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly. Members of the public should not recognise them as honourable members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly until they avail themselves before the hallowed chamber to be properly inaugurated and actively participate in the activities and procedures of the Assembly.

“Today, they stand barred; they stand suspended. If they are ready to come before us we will welcome them,” Ogazi declared.

He called on Governor Sule to desist from encouraging illegality by recognising the Balarabe-Abdullahi-led faction even as he promised that the House under his leadership would support and cooperate with the governor to move the state to greater height.

However, a member of the Balarabe-Abdullahi faction told The Guardian that the position of the Ogazi camp was a joke taken too far.

The member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the Ogazi camp had no locus standi to take a decision on matters that affect the House, describing the actions so far taken by the camp as unholy and illegal.

He called on security operatives to arrest members of the Ogazi group, saying they were constituting “nuisance to the legislative community and the state as a whole.”

Sensing a breakdown of law and order, the police sealed off the complex and warned the Ogazi faction against breaching the peace. However, shortly after the Ogazi faction left the premises following the Police order, the Balarabe-Abdullahi group were escorted into the chamber by the Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Muhammed Baba, to hold their sitting. 

At the sitting, the faction declared an indefinite recess for members, saying the Assembly complex needed to undergo repairs following vandalisation the previous day by the Ogazi faction.

Amid the crisis, the governor declared openly that he would work with the Balarabe-Abdullahi faction, which has 11 members as opposed to Ogazi’s camp with 13 members. 

Speaking on the crisis during a programme on Arise Television, Sule stated unequivocally: “l will only recognise the Speaker sworn-in by the Clerk of Assembly.”

He then added: “l have a preference, but it’s not compulsory. My choice is the person I have worked with for the last four years because I have worked with him. I met him as a speaker. I worked with him, and we had a very peaceful state. 

“Nasarawa State is considered one of the most peaceful states, and it’s because of the kind of relationship I have with him. It is the same thing with the Chief Judge (CJ).

“I have a wonderful relationship with the CJ. The three arms of government in Nasarawa State have an excellent working relationship.

“Politicians can sometimes create big things out of nothing. These two gentlemen that we are talking about, who are contesting against each other, are the best of friends. 

“But I do the best I can to stay away. If you agree with me, I would prefer to continue with this person, but I am not imposing him on you. 

“I think executives have such rights as human beings. As a governor, I am also an indigene of Nasarawa State. I have the right to say I prefer this rather than that; I want this other than that, especially in a situation where I will be the one to work with the people. 

“So I can say, based what I know about you, I prefer this person to that. I have a choice. I am a human being, but it’s not compulsory.”

Explaining further why he prefers to work with Balarabe-Abdullahi, the governor noted that he has been able to keep the House calm as a result of his maturity.

He added: “He has the respect of most of the members. Like today, we have 11 members of the Assembly that are APC. Eight were with him in this same exercise that we are talking about.

“Before I had my preference, I had a discussion with the party and the party also chose him and said that he is the right person that we want.

“l consulted also with some of the major stakeholders in the state, and they said he is the right person.  I didn’t just jump up and say this is the person I want; I made consultations.

“Then we called all the legislators from our party and told them this is who we want to be speaker and we want them to support him. 

“First, I never wanted to get involved in their arguments about who does what or the other. But let us look at the legitimacy of swearing-in. 

“Who do you want me to recognise? The one sworn-in by the Clerk or the one sworn-in by only God knows who?”

Analysts have, however, accused the governor of perpetrating illegality. A chieftain of the APC in the state and former chairman of Karu Local Council, Samuel Akala, told The Guardian that even though he is loyal to the governor, he would not support the encouragement and perpetuation of illegality in the House of Assembly.

Meanwhile, three members of the Ogazi faction have joined the Balarabe-Abdullahi faction and were sworn-in last Thursday. 

They were sworn-in by the factional speaker during an emergency sitting at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. 

Those sworn-in include Mohammed Oyanki (PDP- Doma North), who was deputy speaker at the Ogazi faction, Ovey John (PDP-Keffi East) and Hudu A Hudu (APC- Awe North).

Oyanki said that they decided to join the Balarabe-Abdullahi camp in the interest of peace.

Reacting to the development, Ogazi accused the governor of using Emirs and parents of the three lawmakers to force them to join the Balarabe-Abdullahi faction. 

“I am aware that some Emirs, traditional rulers and even parents of the three members who left for the Balarabe faction are being used, including giving huge amount of money. Most of these members are new in the House and decided to yield to the pressure. But we must see the end of this illegality and fight this just cause to a logical end,” Ogazi said.

Meanwhile, both factions are currently in court seeking various injunctions against each other. This suggests that the end to the crisis is not in sight yet given the snail speed at which Nigerian courts dispense justice. However, the possibility of a truce is not ruled out, and should they find a middle ground, they would be doing the state a lot of good, as there can be no meaningful development without peace.