Anxiety has gripped Kaduna following Wednesday’s declaration of the seat of the ex-deputy speaker, John Audu, vacant.The ex-deputy speaker, who represents Kachia constituency, defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the main opposition party, last Friday sparking internal anger in the APC dominated assembly, leading to the declaration of his seat vacant by the speaker of the house, Aminu Shagali.
Shagali noted that his action in declaring the seat of the ex-deputy speaker vacant was in line with extant constitutional provisions.
The member representing Kagargo constituency, Nuhu Shadalafiya was elected by the lawmakers to replace the ex-deputy speaker, after the member representing Zaria/Kewaye, Ahmed Mohammed nominated him for the position.
In his reaction, a constitutional lawyer in Kaduna, Sulaiman Zuntu, said the action of the Kaduna state house of assembly was in total contravention of both Nigeria’s constitution and the electoral act.
He said both the constitution and electoral act were silent on the issue, therefore, the lawmakers should have exercised restraint in taking the action which was seemingly carried out for the expediency of political correctness.
In another vein, a political analyst in Kaduna, Sani Shehu, said the action of the lawmakers constitute a death knell for our nascent democracy.
He said the decision of the lawmakers was preposterous and carried out in bad faith, urging the ex-deputy speaker to challenge the odious action before the court of law.
