Nasarawa Speakership Crisis: Protesters petition IGP, demand redeployment of CP

Protesters stormed the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters on Wednesday to demand the removal of the Nassarawa State Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Baba, over his alleged interference in the State House of Assembly matters.

The protesters besieged the enterance of the Police Headquarters carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Remove the CP now, we call on IG of police to intervene in Nasarawa, Security Agencies must stay clear of politics, CP Maiyaki is a threat to democracy in Nasarawa state, Democracy in Nasarawa is in danger, We demand immediate redeployment of CP in Nasarawa, 7th Assembly Daniel Ogazi is our speaker”.

The group in a petition it filed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), accused the CP of not only meddling in the affairs of the house but also refusing to provide security for principal officers in the House of Assembly.

Recall that at separate sittings of the Assembly held on June 6, 2023, Balarabe Abdullahi representing Umaisha/Ugya constituency and Daniel Ogah Ogazi from Kokona constituency, were purportedly elected as speakers. While Balarabe Abdullahi, the immediate past Speaker, who is seeking a third term as Speaker was elected at a sitting that took place at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogazi emerged as Speaker after a sitting at the State Assembly complex.

13 members-elect, including those from the opposition political parties, were believed to have supported Ogazi, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress, while 11 members were loyal to Balarabe-Abdullahi, who is also a member of the APC in the state. In the midst of the crisis, the police sealed off the State Assembly Complex.

But addressing Journalists, the group, under the aiges of Concerned Nasarawa State Stakeholders, accused the CP of supporting the minority faction led by the former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Balarabe Abdullahi.

According to the petition to the IGP, the group led by David Manga and Ibrahim Saidu, indicated that the Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa state is allegedly providing cover and security for the minority faction as against the validly elected House of Assembly Speaker and the other principal members.

“On the 7th day of June, 2023, the Commissioner of Police invited the 13 House members including the Speaker to the State Police Command in Lafia and threatened to detain them. He then warned that they must all not be seen close to the House of Assembly Complex again. Surprisingly sir, the same Commissioner of police that told the majority members not to go to the premise personally led the minority members into the house of Assembly on the following day i.e 8th day of June, 2023 to conduct an illegal plenary and prevented the Speaker, Rt. Honourable Daniel Ogah Ogazi and other 12 members from entering the Assembly complex to perform their constitutional duties.

“Just yesterday, being the 12th day of June, 2023, the Commissioner of Police withdrew the two policemen attached to the Rt. Honourable Speaker of the House of Assembly who had been with him since the time he was the majority leader of the House of Assembly since the last dispensation. The action of the Commissioner of Police in withdrawing his security is tantamount to exposing the speaker to danger. Even an ordinary member of the State House of Assembly is entitled to at least a Police officer not to talk of the Speaker and the number three citizen of Nasarawa State.

“Let it be emphasised sir that the State House of Assembly established pursuant to the Provisions of Section 90 of the Constitution is an independent legislative Arm of government presided over by the Speaker of the House of Assembly. The proceedings and election of the principal members of the house is purely an internal affairs of the members interse. It is not a function the Honourable Commissioner of Police or any member of the executive arm should interfere with.

“It is surprising that the Commissioner of Police who is expected to maintain law and order and to uphold the rule of law has now turned himself to law breaker. We dare say that he is no longer fit to provide safety and security for the good people of Nasarawa State. We, the Concerned Nasarawa State Stakeholders hereby appeal to you sir to use your good office to transfer the Commissioner of Police Maiyaki Muhammed Bala out of Nasarawa State due to his unprofessional conduct. These acts of the Commissioner of Police have the propensity of causing serious civil unrest and political instability in the state”.

An Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kingsley Anyanwu who received the petition from the protesters on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, assured them that their message would be delivered to the IGP and action taken accordingly.