The declaration of two seats in Kaduna State House of Assembly vacant by the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Shagali, has been described as unconstitutional and a clear case of political victimization.
A leading gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the State, Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru, who made the remarks in a statement in Kaduna Friday, said the action, as announced by the Speaker shows more clearly the penchant of the ruling APC, of the violation of the constitution in its bid to retain power by all means.
According to him, the defection of the two members representing Kachia and Kudan constituencies, Hon. John Audu Kwaturu and Hon. Junaidu Yakubu respectively from the APC was in order considering the existence of strong factions in the party.
Ashiru who was the Chairman of the House Committee on appropriation at the Kaduna State House of Assembly from 1999-2007 said by declaring the seats vacant on the basis of the defection of the two members, the House had shown total contempt for the constitution of the country.
The aspirant further said the House, by this action had only demonstrated another attempt to subvert democracy as it earlier suspended two PDP lawmakers, Hon. Danladi Kwasu Angulu (Zangon Constituency) and Hon. Yakubu Bityong (Kaura Constituency) without recourse to due process.
Ashiru who expressed dismay over the refusal of the House to recall the members even after a court of competent jurisdiction ruled on their favour, and therefore called on the leadership of the PDP at the State and national levels to take necessary constitutional actions against the Kaduna State House of Assembly in the interest of democracy.
The press statement was signed by Murtala Abubakar, for Media Committee, Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru Campaign Organisation, HIMACO, and made available to journalists in Kaduna, recalled that the Deputy Speaker seat and a member who defected to PDP was declared vacant and replaced with another member immediately at a seating held middle of the week