Niger Assembly suspends plenary over rift with governor

The Niger State House of Assembly on Tuesday abruptly suspended plenary following disagreements among lawmakers over what members described as “unresolved issues” between the legislature and the executive arm of government.

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The decision came shortly after the commencement of proceedings, when the member representing Chanchaga Constituency, Mohammed Kabir, popularly known as Kabir Ustaz, moved a motion seeking the suspension of legislative activities until pending matters between the two arms of government are addressed.

Mr Kabir argued that allowing such issues to linger without resolution could undermine the integrity of the legislature and erode the legacy built by previous assemblies.

“Posterity will judge us if we continue to sweep these issues under the carpet. We must not send the wrong signal to future legislators by appearing to betray the reputation built by our predecessors,” he said.

However, he was prevented from detailing the contentious issues on the floor after lawmakers agreed that the matter should be discussed in an executive session instead.

The motion was seconded by Abdulrahman Gambo, the member representing Borgu Constituency.

Divergent views

The member representing Lavun Constituency, Jibrin Baba, opposed the motion, arguing that suspending plenary after members had already reconvened for legislative business was unnecessary.

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His opposition triggered heated exchanges among lawmakers, with a majority insisting that plenary could not continue under the prevailing circumstances.

The disagreement quickly degenerated into a rowdy session before Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkindaji intervened.

Mr Sarkindaji appealed to members to exercise restraint, urging them to respect differing opinions and approach the matter with maturity.

Following the debate, the speaker directed that the matter be subjected to a voice vote. Lawmakers supporting the suspension of plenary emerged victorious.

The House subsequently resolved to suspend plenary and proceed into a closed-door executive session to deliberate on the unresolved matters and determine its position before communicating with the executive arm.

Political undercurrents

The development comes months after internal political realignments within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) altered the dynamics within the Assembly.

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During the party primaries ahead of the forthcoming elections, only 12 of the 26 APC lawmakers reportedly secured return tickets through a consensus arrangement that generated controversy within political circles.

Although lawmakers did not publicly link Tuesday’s action to the outcome of the primaries, political observers believe the exercise may have deepened existing divisions within the legislature.

It could be recalled that this is not the first time the Niger State House of Assembly has witnessed tensions or institutional confrontations.

In 2022, the Assembly recommended the suspension of 15 local government chairpersons over alleged irregularities in the handling of contract financing loans, underscoring its willingness to assert its oversight powers over the executive and local government administrations.

The Assembly has also experienced occasional rowdy sessions and disagreements over policy directions and legislative procedures, although the outright suspension of plenary over unresolved issues with the executive remains relatively uncommon.

The latest development may therefore signal deeper strains in executive-legislative relations in the state.

Observers say the outcome of the executive session could determine whether the disagreement is merely procedural or indicative of a broader political crisis within the state’s governing structure.