By Abdallah el-Kurebe, Editor
Twenty-one serving and members-elect of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) in Sokoto have rejected plans by the 8th Assembly of the state to amend House Standing Orders.
The members, at a press conference read by the member representing Gwadabawa South, Hon. Abdullahi Garba described as alarming, the amendment moves at the tail end of the 8th Assembly.
“The exercise should not have been embarked upon when the 8th Assembly has only few weeks to cease to exist,” Garba stated.
They alleged that the amendment is aimed at manipulating the Orders to favour certain interests.
“The existing Standing Orders provide for the election of the Speaker and his Deputy through electronic voting or raising of hands to be counted by tellers where the person with the highest votes gets elected as the Speaker or Deputy.
“Therefore, any attempt to alter the existing provisions of the House Standing Orders at the eleventh hour, aimed at manipulating the Orders to favour certain egocentric interests of some political zealots, will be resisted,” they further stated.
The members also faulted the composition as well as the leadership of the Orders amendment committee, which they alleged APC had two of the seven members.
“Out of the seven members, APC is represented by only two. The two members of the committee have decide to resign with immediate effect.
“The committee is being headed by an outgoing member who should not be allowed to determine the fate of the 9th Assembly to which he is not a member,” they posited.
They therefore dissociated themselves from the amendment.
