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Governors Hyacinth Alia of Benue and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara have declined the invitation from the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, casting doubt on its constitutionality and legitimacy.

The committee called the governors and their state assemblies on Friday due to alleged constitutional infractions and governance shortcomings, according to a statement released by Chooks Oko, its head of media.

Legislative issues and deteriorating security conditions in both states have lawmakers looking for answers.

The suspension of 13 lawmakers who are thought to be against Governor Alia is at the center of the dispute in Benue.

The governor’s decision to suspend Justice Maurice Ikpambese, the state’s chief judge, caused a political controversy and charges of governmental overreach, which the suspended members had criticized.

A group of nine lawmakers who were suspended earlier still maintain their legitimacy and have called on Governor Lawal to show them the budget until 2025. The state now has a parallel legislative system as a result of this development.

Additionally, both states are battling long-standing security issues. Heavy-armed bandits continue to besieging Zamfara, committing extortion, livestock rustling, and mass kidnappings, especially in rural areas.

Deadly conflicts between armed herders and farmers continue to occur in Benue, endangering both human life and food production.

Prominent officials from both state governments have rejected the invitation, claiming that the National Assembly lacks the constitutional authority to call governors to discuss state issues.

Hyacinth Dajoh, the speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, played down the news, claiming he had not yet received an official invitation. “It’s all a social media issue. Maybe the letter may reach my office on Monday, but as of now, I cannot respond to it,” he said.

Governors are answerable to their state assemblies and residents, not the National Assembly, according to Zamfara State PDP Publicity Secretary Halliru Andi, who denounced the House committee’s move. “No amount of intimidation from so-called politically twisted committees or courts can derail our leadership,” Andi said

In the meantime, Zamfara’s factional lawmakers asserted that they had discovered schemes to attack them. “We are aware of plans to attack us and our families. We have a recording of the planned attack and have alerted security agencies in case anything happens to us,” they revealed in a statement.

The PDP and the Austin Agada-led APC group are among the opposition parties in Benue that have stated their support for the National Assembly’s intervention. Political analysts warn that the matter could lead to a protracted legal and constitutional battle between the two state governments and federal parliamentarians.

It’s still unclear as of this writing if the National Assembly would try to execute its summons or if the hearing will go forward as planned.

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