The Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Barrister Adamu Usman, has said that his appointment as the acting governor of the state Gov Babangida Aliyu in the stead of the Deputy Governor, who recently defected to All Progressives Congress (APC), is within the precinct of law.
The Speaker as said that The decision of the House to declare the seats of two members vacant for defecting to another party was a legitimate action.
accordimg to him, “Anyone not satisfied with the decision of the governor should go to court.
“It is normal when you feel there is an infraction on your right, you approach the court.
“It is left for the court to decide otherwise.”
Speaking on the vacant seats in the House of Assembly, Usman said there was no order restraining the House from taking the steps it took, stressing that the action of the House was within the ambit of the law.
He said: “Yes, we know the affected legislators instituted a court case but no step was taken after filing and serving the case.
“The House was not restrained by the court.
“We did whatever we did within the ambit of the law.
“No court order restrained us from taking the steps we took.”
Usman, who is the state’s Acting Governor, spoke when the State Working Committee of the PDP paid him a visit to commend the House for the courage to declare the seats of the defected legislators vacant.
Citing Section 109 (2) of the 1999 constitution, he said that the legislators followed the constitution, citing instances in the state and other states where defected members’ seats were declared vacant.
He said: “There must be discipline and morals in our politics.
“If you want to belong to a political body, be there fully and not when it favours you.
“You cannot eat your cake and have it.”
Usman appreciated the support of the state PDP, especially in the recent decision taken by the House, urging the party to continue to give its support.
The Speaker further cautioned elected and appointed politicians in the PDP not to cause any crisis or disaffection in the party, stating that a vote of no confidence would be passed on such person.
He said: “If we find anyone who wants to cause problems in our party, even Commissioners, if they are found wanting, we will pass a vote of no confidence on that person.”
Earlier, the Niger state PDP acting Chairman, Rt. Hon. Umaru Musa Ma’ali, commended the steps taken by the House, stating that it would instil discipline in the party.
According to Ma’ali, the PDP wants to produce members that are loyal and obedient, stressing that they will not sit back and watch things go wrong in the party.
Speaking on the appointment of the Acting Governor, Ma’ali said Governor Aliyu acted within the law as his deputy, Hon. ahmed Ibeto, had written to him that he was traveling for lesser Hajj.
He however was not certain if the governor gave an approval to the deputy governor before he left.
