In a dramatic political realignment that underscores deep institutional fractures, six serving members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have formally defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This move is not a simple party switch; it is a public indictment of the state’s legislative and executive branches, revealing a governance crisis with significant implications for constitutional order and democratic accountability.
Reported by Hussaina Yakubu
Kaduna, Dec. 25, 2025 (NAN)
The six lawmakers announced their defection during a sitting of what they term a “parallel assembly” in Gusau, the state capital. Their decision, they stated, was precipitated by a profound breakdown in constitutional governance. They accused the principal faction of the State Legislature of “alleged disregard and disrespect to the nation’s constitution,” transforming the assembly into a mere extension of the Governor’s office.
The Core of the Crisis: A Rubber-Stamp Legislature and a Two-Year Suspension
The defectors presented a detailed case against the current political establishment. Their central allegation is that the legislature has “compromised its duties by serving as an extension of the Governor’s office and a rubber stamp to Gov. Dauda Lawal.” This accusation strikes at the heart of the separation of powers, a fundamental democratic principle designed to provide checks and balances.
More critically, the lawmakers revealed they have been “illegally suspended for about two years,” a move they say has effectively silenced the voices of their constituents. This prolonged suspension, without due process, is a severe political tactic that raises serious questions about democratic representation. In response, they formed a parallel legislative body, a rare and extreme measure that highlights the depth of the impasse.
They tendered their separate defection letters before their factional Speaker, Hon. Bashar Aliyu Gummi—who is himself one of the defectors.
The Defectors and Their Constitutional Argument
The defected lawmakers are: the factional Speaker, Hon. Bashar Gummi (Gummi 1); Hon. Nasiru Maru (Maru North); Bashir Masama (Bukkuyum North); Hon. Bashir Bello (Bungudu West); Hon. Amiru Keta (Tsafe West); and Hon. Mukhtar Kaura (Kaura Namoda North).
They levied a grave technical charge against the government-recognized faction: that it has been passing laws and making decisions without forming the legally required quorum. In parliamentary systems, a quorum—a minimum number of members present—is essential for the legitimacy of proceedings. The defectors declared all such laws “null and void,” and called upon the National Assembly to intervene and restore “order and rule of law.” This appeal to a higher legislative authority signals a complete collapse of trust in state-level resolution mechanisms.
Political Motivations and a Scathing Critique of PDP
While citing “justice, fair play, harmony and inclusiveness” as their reasons for joining the APC, the lawmakers launched a blistering attack on their former party. They declared, “PDP in Zamfara is dead… it is only waiting for burial arrangements,” blaming its demise on a leadership that has “derailed from the party manifestos” and been consumed by “protracted internal crisis.”
Their criticism extended to Governor Dauda Lawal, accusing him of “nonchalance to the issue of insecurity”—a paramount concern in Zamfara—while being “engulfed” in a political feud with the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle. This paints a picture of an executive distracted by political rivalry amidst a severe security crisis.
Following the reading of the letters, factional Speaker Gummi framed the defection as a historic shift. “Our collective decision… marks a new political era in Zamfara where members of the ruling party defect to the opposition which has changed the tradition,” he said, framing the move as a quest for “political stability.”
The Legal Foundation
The lawmakers anchored their decision in Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides for the vacation of a legislative seat if a member defects from the party under which they were elected, barring a division in the party. By invoking this clause, they are legally justifying their cross-carpeting, though such moves are often subject to legal interpretation and challenge.
This defection is more than a headline; it is a case study in sub-national political dysfunction. It exposes the weaponization of legislative processes, the erosion of checks and balances, and the personalization of political conflict at the expense of governance and public security. The ramifications for Zamfara’s political stability and constitutional integrity are immediate and profound.
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
Source: NAN
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