The Save Zamfara Coalition (SZC) has advised the state governor, Dauda Lawal, to acknowledge the newly elected leadership of the Zamfara State House of Assembly to avoid consequences that could further destabilise the state’s political climate.
The warning followed a dramatic turn of events in the state assembly, where ten lawmakers suspended in February 2024 reconvened in Gusau, elected a new Speaker, and demanded the resubmission of the 2025 budget.
The lawmakers, drawn from various constituencies across Zamfara, expressed concerns over worsening insecurity, alleged economic mismanagement, and what they termed a calculated attempt to stifle legislative autonomy.
In a joint statement signed by Comrade Haruna Mohammed, President of the Coalition, and Mallam Shagari Ibn Nazir, Secretary General, the group praised the lawmakers for their bravery in resisting what they described as “executive tyranny” and for electing Bashir Aliyu Gummi as the new Speaker of the Assembly.
“These lawmakers are the true defenders of democracy. After enduring months of harassment, mental torture and calculated humiliation, they have reclaimed the soul of our parliament from the grip of a governor desperate to silence opposition and erase accountability,” the statement reads.
“For too long, the Assembly under the previous leadership served as a rubber stamp, pushing through anti-people policies, shielding executive excesses, and turning its back on the very constituents that elected them. That charade is over. Zamfara now has a new speaker — chosen by the majority — and the governor has no choice but to comply.”
The coalition emphasised that the decision of the ten lawmakers was not just lawful, but morally imperative in the face of what it called “the systematic destruction of democratic institutions in the state”.
“Let it be clear: the election of Hon. Bashir Gummi as Speaker follows due parliamentary process. Any refusal by Governor Lawal to recognise this leadership amounts to a constitutional breach — one that will be resisted by every legal and civil means available to us,” they said.
The group also took aim at the governor’s recent policies, including allegations of mass dismissals of public servants and selective governance that they claim have alienated large segments of the population.
“Governor Dauda Lawal must understand that the House of Assembly is not an extension of the Government House. It is an independent arm of government empowered by the constitution to act as a check on the executive, not a cheering crowd for the governor,” the statement added.
“Governor Lawal has governed with arrogance, impunity and contempt for the rule of law. From unjustly sacking workers, turning a blind eye to the security threats in the state, to manipulating the Assembly through backdoor deals. Enough is enough!”
The coalition further commended the new leadership of the assembly for demanding the resubmission of the 2025 budget, noting that such an act reflects a return to the path of transparency and accountability.
The SZC warned the governor that failure to submit the 2025 budget to the newly reconstituted Assembly would trigger legal action.
“Revisiting the 2025 budget is a necessary step. It’s not about confrontation, it’s about ensuring that the fiscal direction of the state is properly scrutinised and reflects the needs of the people, not the preferences of a few individuals,” the coalition added.
“We’re not making empty threats. If the governor continues to act as though he is above the constitution, we will treat him as such — through mass resistance, civil disobedience and judicial confrontation. No single man is greater than the parliament.”
Calling on civil society, the media, and traditional institutions to stand with the Assembly, the coalition argued that democracy in Zamfara cannot survive under silence and complicity.
“This is not a Zamfara Assembly issue; it is about the future of democracy in Nigeria. The moment a governor can dictate who leads the legislature, democracy collapses into dictatorship. This must be rejected by all Nigerians.”
The coalition concluded by reaffirming its full support for Speaker Gummi and the ten lawmakers, calling them “heroes of democracy.”
“These men have earned their place in history. They stood when it was dangerous to stand. They spoke when others chose silence. They acted when many had lost hope. We salute their courage, and we stand firmly behind them.”
As the political situation unfolds, the coalition said it will continue to monitor developments closely and will not hesitate to take further action should the executive branch attempt to undermine the authority of the new Assembly leadership.
