Electoral violence: Kogi Assembly suspends 9 lawmakers, 7 LG chiefs

Kogi House of Assembly

Kogi House of Assembly

By Thompson Yamput

Nine lawmakers and seven local government chairpersons have been suspended by the Kogi House of Assembly over alleged involvement in acts of terrorism and electoral violence during Saturday’s House of Assembly election in the state.

The nine lawmakers were suspended following a letter written to the House of Assembly by the state governor, Yahaya Bello.

On the other hand, the LG Chairpersons were suspended based on complaints against them contained in a letter written to the Assembly on Thursday by Kogi APC Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Bello.

The suspended lawmakers represent constituencies in Kogi Central and East.

The suspended lawmakers include the majority leader of the House, Muktar Bajeh.

The others are Daniya Ranyi (Bassa), Suleiman Attajachi (Idah), Bello Hassan (Ajaokuta) and Edoko Moses-Ododo (Ibaji), Abubakar Tanko (Kogi/Koto), Atabor Cosmas-Llemona (Igalamela/Odolu) Kilani Olusola-Olumo (Ijumu) and Mohammed Lawi-Ahmed (Okene 1),

They breached the conduct of March 18 House of Assembly elections in the state, according to a letter from Gov. Yahaya Bello to the Assembly dated March 23.

In their own letter dated March 22, the state leadership of the APC demanding for the suspension of seven local government chairpersons for alleged act of electoral violence.

They were asked to be investigated by the House Adhoc Committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Alfa Rabiu-Momoh.

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The APC Chairman listed the seven Local Government Chairmen he wanted suspended as that of Bassa with his Vice, Ogorimagogo with his Vice, Yagba West, Ibaji, Kabba/Bunu, Ajaokuta and Adavi.

The third letter received by the House was a petition from nine out of 10 councillors of Lokoja LGA, asking for the investigation of the Council Chairman, Alhaji Dansabe Muhammed, over an alleged misappropriation of about N150 million revenue allocations received by the council.

On deliberations, the House also suspended the chairman and the Leader of the legislative Arm to give room for smooth investigation of the matter raised by the councillors.

The speaker of the House, Matthew Kolawale, while speaking on the suspended colleagues, described their involvement in “terrorism and electoral violence’’ as “very unfortunate” and “uncalled.”

Contributing to the debate on the allegations levelled against the lawmakers, the Deputy Speaker, from Ankpa 2 state constituency, supported the suspension of lawmakers over the said allegations.

“I’m in strong support of their suspension simply because the state is bigger than any personal interest more so that lawmakers should not be found contravening the laws, which they themselves made,” Rabiu-Momoh said.

Also Mr Collins Musa, Omala State Constituency, aligned himself with the Deputy Speaker, arguing that issue that bothers on terrorism was too grave to sweep under the carpet and asked for thorough investigation to get to the root of the matter.

Nevertheless, the House gave two weeks to a seven-man adhoc committee headed by the deputy speaker and Mr Bayero Jiya, as secretary within which to conduct and complete its findings and report back to it.

The House, therefore, adjourned its sitting to March 28.

(NAN)

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