A High Court of Justice sitting in Zamfara State has barred Hon. Bashar Aliyu from parading himself as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
Justice Muhammad Gusau who gave the order also restrained eight others from parading themselves as members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly.
The latest development is not unexpected with the Zamfara House of Assembly having been bedevilled with a leadership crisis, after two factions claimed control of the speakership.
A factional group of Zamfara lawmakers earlier this year convened at an undisclosed location, where they elected Aliyu (Gummi 1 Constituency) as assembly speaker and reportedly discussed issues related to security and workers’ welfare.
Reacting, Speaker Bilyaminu Moriki, backed by the majority of lawmakers, suspended Aliyu and eight other members of the splinter group.
Moriki maintained that only one legitimate assembly exists in Zamfara State and declared any sessions held outside the official chamber as unconstitutional and invalid.
The dispute was taken to the Zamfara State High Court which held in its ruling on a motion filed by the House of Assembly dated June 23, 2025, that: “Consequently, it is hereby ordered as follows: That the 1st Respondent (Aliyu) by himself including his Agents, Employees, Officials, Privies, and or all those purporting to be acting for him or other persons howsoever and whosoever called are hereby restrained in the interim from parading himself as the Speaker of the Applicant or assuming the functions of the Speaker of the Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the motion No. ZMS/GS/M.228/2025.
“That the 2nd – 9th Respondents by themselves, including their Agents, Employees, Officials Privies and or all those purporting to be acting for them or to have derived title from them or other persons, howsoever and whosoever called, are hereby restrained in the interim from further conducting illegal session or making any resolution to appoint a speaker to the 1st Applicant pending the determination of motion No. ZMS/GS/M.228/2025. The Application succeed and same is hereby granted as prayed.”
