The Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday rejected a summons issued by the Public Petitions Committee of the National Assembly, insisting that the state legislature is not subject to oversight by federal lawmakers.
During plenary in Makurdi, the Assembly passed a resolution urging its Speaker, Rt. Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, to disregard the invitation, which it described as unconstitutional and a violation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The lawmakers asserted that the National Assembly lacks the authority to summon state legislators or interfere in the operations of a subnational legislative body.
The Assembly resolved to challenge the summons in court and called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the originators of the petition that led to the summons. Lawmakers expressed concern that the petition, submitted by a group known as the “Guidance of Democracy”, had misrepresented the internal affairs of the Benue Assembly.
The House also appealed to members of the Benue National Assembly Caucus—both Senators and Representatives—to engage with their state counterparts and clarify the circumstances that led to what they described as an unwarranted negative portrayal of Benue State at the federal level.
Speaking during the session, House Majority Leader, Comrade Saater Tiseer described the summons as “a product of ignorance”, stressing that Section 101 of the Constitution empowers state legislatures to regulate their own proceedings without interference from the National Assembly.
Supporting the resolution, Bemdoo Ipusu, member for Katsina-Ala West, backed legal action against the National Assembly and called for the inclusion of the “Guidance of Democracy” group as a co-defendant in the suit, accusing it of misleading federal lawmakers.
Ipusu also criticised the listing of Peter Uche—a serving member of the Assembly—as one of those allegedly suspended, saying it reflected a fundamental misunderstanding of the events that had transpired on the floor of the House.
He questioned the rationale behind what he termed the National Assembly’s attempt to overreach a “functioning and effective” state legislature.
Other lawmakers, including Michael Audu and Peter Uche, condemned the summons and advised the Speaker not to honour it. Uche clarified that he remains an active member of the Assembly, fulfilling his legislative responsibilities and representing his constituents. He decried the “misinformation” that led to the inclusion of his name among suspended lawmakers.
