The Zamfara State Government has described the activities of parallel assembly in the state as illegal, insisting that the state has only one legislature, under its Speaker, Bilyaminu Moriki.

The Special Adviser to Governor Dauda Lawal on Political Matters, Iliyasu Maijega, stated this while addressing journalists in Gusau on Friday.

The suspended members of the house had formed a parallel assembly.

The development led to the factions in the assembly, one headed by Bilyaminu Moriki (PDP-Zurmi South) as speaker, and the other one under the headship of Bashar Aliyu (PDP-Gummi I).

The parallel assembly in its legislative sitting recently in Gusau accused Lawal’s administration of poor performance in the security sector and the high costs of contracts of infrastructural projects, among others.

Mr Maijega described the declaration of another assembly by the suspended lawmakers as illegal and a violation of a court order.

He described the recent accusations against Mr Lawal’s administration by the parallel assembly lawmakers as null and void.

Mr Maijega added, “All the accusations made by so-called parallel assembly against the present administration were baseless. I think the issue of the state assembly crisis is before the court, therefore, any action they take is illegal. Any lawmaker who claims to be a member of Zamfara State parallel assembly is working against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He called on the public to ignore the reports of any parallel assembly sitting in the state.

He added, “Any resolution of the parallel assembly is not lawful. The state legislature under the leadership of Speaker Bilyaminu Moriki remains the only legitimate state house of assembly authorised to carry out legislative duties in the state.’’

Mr Maijega called on the people of the state to continue supporting Mr Lawal’s administration to move the state forward.

(NAN)