The House of Representatives has called on the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene and ensure that the remaining members-elect of the Plateau State House of Assembly are sworn for the purpose of equity, fairness and justice.
It noted that failure to address the delays or biases in the swearing-in of these new members-elect was a total denial of the voices of other constituencies in Plateau State and undermines commitment to justice, fairness, and the principles of democracy and poised a threat to security in the State.
The resolution of the House followed teg adoption of a motion moved at the plenary on Tuesday by
Hon. Ahmed Wase.
Moving the motion, Wase recalled that in 2023, the Court of Appeal hearing appeals arising from judgements of the Plateau State Election Tribunal, made decisions which resulted in the nullification of Certificates of Return of 16 sitting members of the Plateau State House of Assembly and ordered the issuance of new Certificates of Return to the new Members by the Independent National Electoral Commission
The lawmaker stressed that pursuant to the provisions ofSection 72(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued Certificates of Return to the new members in compliance with the order of the Appeal Court and the Law.
He added that Section 94(1) of the Constitution provides the procedure for the swearing in of newly elected members of a State House of Assembly.
Wase noted that the members-elect of the Plateau State House of Assembly have met all the requirements of the law, as contained in section 94 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and section 72 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022
He expressed concern that the remaining members-elect of the Plateau State House of Assembly are compelled to submit letters of resignation with accompanying Court Affidavit by the Speaker as a condition for swearing-in which amount to a mockery of democracy at a period Nigeria is celebrating 25 years of unbroken democracy
Wase said the current situation, where some of the new members were selected and sworn-in by the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly while others have not been sworn-in, contradicts the principles of fairness and justice that our electoral laws seek to uphold.