A coalition of over 1,000 lawyers from across Nigeria, under the banner of Save Benue and Zamfara Coalition, staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly on Tuesday, calling on the federal legislature to constitutionally assume control of the Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly.
The protesting legal practitioners, led by Barrister Sambari Benjamin, submitted a formal petition to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, citing constitutional paralysis in the two state legislatures. They demanded that the National Assembly invoke Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers it to take over legislative functions in any state where the assembly is unable to perform due to prevailing crises.
According to the coalition, both assemblies have been rendered dysfunctional due to alleged executive interference. In Zamfara, ten lawmakers have reportedly remained suspended since February 2024 for raising alarm over growing insecurity in the state — an action allegedly directed by Governor Dauda Lawal. Similarly, in Benue, thirteen members were suspended for refusing Governor Hyacinth Alia’s instruction to suspend the Chief Judge of the state.
“These politically motivated suspensions have crippled legislative activities in both states,” said Benjamin. “The state governors are using executive power to silence dissent and frustrate democratic processes.”
The petition warned that failure to act could lead to a constitutional crisis and the possible declaration of emergency rule in the two states, similar to the recent situation in Rivers State.
“We write to request the urgent intervention of the Senate under your able leadership to forestall the demise of our democracy in instalments,” the petition read. “Our fears are that all of Nigeria’s 36 states would come under emergency rule if the Senate does not step in.”
Citing Section 11(4), the lawyers reminded lawmakers that the Constitution authorizes the National Assembly to legislate for a state “when any House of Assembly of a State is unable to perform its functions by reason of the situation prevailing in that State.”
They urged immediate action to avert what they described as “negative history,” stressing that further delays could force President Bola Tinubu to proclaim a state of emergency — a move that would sideline both the state legislatures and the National Assembly’s constitutional leverage.
The coalition concluded by appealing for “swift and courageous leadership” from the National Assembly to restore democratic order and legislative independence in Benue and Zamfara States.
