The seven lawmakers-elect from Plateau who are members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and have not yet been sworn in by the Speaker of the State Assembly are now seeking President Bola Tinubu’s intervention to urge the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang, to instruct the speaker to administer their oaths of office. These lawmakers-elect have expressed that President Tinubu represents their final recourse as they feel that the principles of justice are being overlooked in relation to their swearing-in, despite the directive from the Appeal Court ordering their induction into office.
It is pertinent to note that on April 5, the speaker of the assembly swore in nine out of the 16 APC and LP lawmakers-elect after they signed resignation letters that were undated. However, the remaining seven lawmakers-elect have alleged that they were excluded from the swearing-in process due to their refusal to sign the resignation letters.
During an interview with Daily Trust, Daniel Nanlong, the lawmaker-elect representing Mikang and speaking on behalf of his colleagues, stated, “Currently, the only individual who holds the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and is the leader of our democratic system in Nigeria has the authority to intercede and facilitate our swearing-in. We anticipate that the president will take decisive measures to ensure that we are administered our oaths of office.”
Nanlong emphasized that they were not invited to the swearing-in on April 5 because they declined to comply with the purported conditions set by the governor, which included endorsing an undated resignation document.
“We are steadfast in our decision not to sign the resignation document merely to secure our induction into office. This is our unwavering stance at present,” he further explained.
“We are currently operating within a democratic framework predicated on the rule of law. Our expectation is that individuals who advocate for democracy, such as President Tinubu, who has a reputation as a proponent of democracy, should view the situation unfolding in Plateau State with concern. We have been urging our constituents to remain calm. It is disheartening that they are currently without representation. Their voices are not being heard within the legislative chamber. This presents a significant challenge for us. We are hopeful that this issue will capture the attention of the president, “Nanlong concluded.
When the speaker, Gabriel Dewan, was contacted regarding the status of the seven lawmakers-elect, he mentioned that he was in a meeting and would return the call. However, at the time of compiling this report, he has not reached out to our correspondent, and numerous calls and messages to him remain unanswered.
From: Nwakaji Peace Martins
