The Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, says the eight lawmakers who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress had been suspended before their decision to leave the party.

Moriki said the lawmakers were suspended on February 26, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the House and holding an unauthorised sitting.

He alleged that the lawmakers broke into the offices of the Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms, forcibly entered the legislative chamber and damaged public property before conducting the unauthorised sitting.

The Speaker said the allegations led to a criminal complaint against the lawmakers before a court of competent jurisdiction.

Reacting to their defection, Moriki described it as an attempt to divert public attention from the disciplinary issues surrounding their suspension and create an impression of instability in the Assembly.

He said the Assembly had, on May 13, 2026, extended their suspension for another legislative session because the disciplinary issues remained unresolved.Moriki also dismissed claims that the Assembly was unable to perform its legislative duties, saying 16 active members were currently conducting proceedings in line with the Constitution and the House Standing Orders.He said the Assembly held plenary last Tuesday and was scheduled to reconvene on Monday, October 5, insisting that there was no basis to describe the House as being in disarray.The Speaker urged the public to separate the lawmakers’ political decisions from their pending disciplinary and legal matters.