Kano assembly won’t swear in opposition member

FOLLOWING the refusal of Kano state House of Assembly to swear in Abdullahi Muhammed of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) as the member representing Kura/Garun-Mallam Constituency of the state, the PDP has accused the All Progressive Congress (APC) of lawlessness and impunity.

Giving judgement in a case concerning the House of Assembly Seat of Kura/Garun-Mallam Constituency of Kano state, the Supreme Court had on 12th of July 2017 ordered Muhammad of the PDP to be sworn in.

The apex court in Appeal No: CA/K/225/2015, SC.957/2015, upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division delivered on the 27th of November, 2015.

The Court had held that the appeal brought against Muhammad’s victory was completely devoid of merit and dismissed it noting, accordingly; “that the 3rd Appellant, Alhaji Hayatu Musa Dorawar Sallau is hereby ordered to vacate the seat of the Kura/Garun Mallam Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly forthwith.”

“That the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is hereby ordered to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Alhaji Hayatu Musa Dorawar Sallau immediately and issue same to the Runner-up in the General Election into the Kano State House of Assembly.”

“That the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly or the Clerk of the House of Assembly (whichever is applicable) is hereby ordered to Swear in the Runner-up in the Said Election.”

While INEC had already complied with the judgement of the Supreme Court by issuing a Certificate of Return to the PDP candidate to represent the Kura/Garun Mallam Constituency of Kano state, the Speaker has failed to swear him in.

According to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in Abuja on Sunday, from the judgement of the Supreme Court, “it is clear that the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly is under compelling obligation to swear in Abdullahi Muhammed of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) without any delay.

“However 26 days after the Judgement, and more than two weeks after the Issuance of the Certificate of Return by INEC, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly is yet to comply with the clear Judgement of the Supreme Court. In a lawless and barbaric display of power and impunity for which the APC has become well known, the Speaker has blatantly refused to swear in our candidate.”

The opposition party therefore called on the Governor of Kano State, the Attorney General of the Federation and all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Speaker of the Kano state House of Assembly to obey the Rule of Law and to perform his constitutional duty by swearing in Mr Abdullahi Mohamed without further delay.

While noting that the disobedience of Supreme Court judgement by the Kano state House of Assembly was another “glaring case of Impunity by the APC,” the statement said the party was constrained to bring to the attention of Nigerians and all lovers of democracy and the Rule of Law.

It noted that it was lawlessness by the ruling APC, “this time by its Kano State branch.”

The PDP hinted however that it was looking at all legal options to bring the erring Speaker to book for this constitutional violation.

“We fought hard for this democracy. We sustained it for sixteen good years. We will not allow it to be destroyed by the recklessness of those who are intoxicated by power,” the PDP declares.