By Monday Ijeh
A socio-political group, the Plateau Patriotic Front, has cautioned against call for the intervention of the National Assembly in the affairs of the Plateau State House of Assembly.
The group gave the warning on Tuesday, in Abuja in a statement by its Chairman, Mr Mani Imman.
He said the call for the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene in the affairs of the Plateau State House of Assembly was an invitation to stoke violence and disrupt governance in the state.
Imman said those calling for the intervention of NASS as lover of crisis.
He said that the development at the floor of the House of Representatives had come to the group’s notice as reported in the media that a motion was raised during Plenary.
“The motion has called on the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene in the crisis surrounding the swearing-in of new members of the Plateau State House of Assembly.
“We view this alarm as an attempt to stoke problems and disrupt governance and the peaceful atmosphere under the guise of crisis in the State House of Assembly,” he said.
He said those behind the call had been quoted as saying, “The Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly has refused to swear in all the new members.”
Imman said those behind the call had accused the speaker of demanding that they submit letters of resignation with accompanying court affidavits as a condition for swearing-in.
He said that instead of calling for the National Assembly’s intervention in the matter it should be resolved to avoid crisis in the state.
‘Failure to address the delays and biases in the swearing-in of the new members poses a threat to security in the state and undermines the principles of justice, fairness, and democracy.
“The Court of Appeal, hearing appeals arising from judgments of the Plateau State Election Tribunal made decisions that resulted in the nullification of Certificates of Return of 16 sitting members of the State Assembly.
“The court has ordered the issuance of new Certificates of Return to the new members by the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola
