Tension is mounting in Zamfara State as a deepening political crisis threatens to paralyze governance. A civic advocacy group, the Northern Democratic Watch (NDW), has accused Governor Dauda Lawal of governing with “impunity” and effectively suspending constitutional order in the state.
The crisis, which has fractured the Zamfara State House of Assembly into two rival factions, has left citizens politically stranded and unrepresented. At the heart of the chaos is the indefinite suspension of 10 duly elected lawmakers, a move NDW says is not only illegal but also politically motivated.
“This is no longer about party politics—it’s a breakdown of constitutional democracy,” said NDW President, Ambassador Mahmud Abubakar, during a press briefing. “What we are witnessing is the emergence of two parallel legislative bodies, both issuing conflicting directives. This is an institutional disaster.”
The group claimed the suspended lawmakers were removed without due legislative procedure or fair hearing, describing the action as a deliberate move to suppress dissenting voices in the Assembly.
NDW’s Four-Point Demand:
1. Immediate reinstatement of the suspended lawmakers.
2. A full independent investigation into the legislative crisis.
3. Nullification of the 2025 budget process conducted during the Assembly deadlock.
4. Declaration of emergency rule in Zamfara State.
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Abubakar alleged that Governor Lawal rushed through the passage of the 2025 budget during the chaos, casting doubt on the legality of the appropriation. “The passage of the budget in this state of illegality undermines fiscal integrity and democratic accountability,” he said.
He warned that the suspension of elected lawmakers has effectively disenfranchised thousands of Zamfara voters. “This is not just a state matter—it is a direct assault on Nigeria’s democracy,” he said, calling on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to intervene urgently.
NDW concluded its statement with a stark warning:
“The world is watching. Nigerians are watching. History is watching.”
The coming days will be critical as Nigerians wait to see whether the federal government will intervene or allow Zamfara’s crisis to spiral further.