By Emman Ovuakporie

ABUJA-Ten Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, lawmakers from Katsina State may be pushed out of the National Assembly next week and replaced with 10 fresh persons from same party.

The move, according to sources, would be hinged on a December 10, 2011, Supreme Court judgment which had been subjected to different interpretations by parties involved in the suit.

While the sitting lawmakers belonging to the Yakubu Lado faction insisted that there was nothing in the judgment that asked them to vacate the National Assembly and be replaced by their Aminu Masari-led opponents, the Masari faction had persistently held the view that the judgment had declared them the authentic candidates of CPC for the April 9, 2011 National Assembly election in the state.

Factions, certificates

Following reports that Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had issued the 10 persons in the Masari faction certificates of return, the leadership of the National Assembly had commenced preparations to swear them in and put an end to the tenure of the sitting lawmakers.

Meetings of the body of principal officers of each of the Houses in the National Assembly, according to sources, have been fixed for next week to review the matter and take appropriate steps.

Insider speaks

An impeccable source at NASS revealed that the leadership ruled out any political manipulation in the matter, pointing out that neither the Senate President, David Mark, nor House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, would have any need to resort to political manipulation to act on the matter.

The source said: “My friend, there is nothing like politics or political manipulation in this matter. Once INEC issues new Certificate of Return to anybody, the holder of the old one ceases to be recognised by the National Assembly leadership.

“Consequently, the holder of the new certificate would be sworn in. It is as simple as that.

“The best thing that the current holders of INEC certificates of return can do for themselves is to prevent a situation that would result in the issuance of new certificates of return to their opponents.”

INEC’s position

In a veiled confirmation through an interview in a national daily yesterday, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, was reported to have said that the commission had complied with the Supreme Court judgment by issuing certificates to only those candidates nominated by the National Executive of CPC.

He reportedly said: “INEC has complied with the ruling of the Supreme Court. We have studied the judgment and our consortium of lawyers resolved that the certificates of return be issued to the candidates nominated by CPC. Any other party that feels unsatisfied can go to court.”

Allowances at stake

It was also gathered that the accounts section in the National Assembly had been directed by the management to commence the process of stopping the payment of salaries and allowances to the 10 sitting Katsina State lawmakers.

This new development to swear in 10 persons has attracted reactions from lawmakers.

A lawmaker in the lower house said: “Why is INEC in a haste to issue the certificates when there is no proper judicial pronouncement to that effect? Why the desperation by the National Assembly to swing swiftly with the tides? How come INEC is now interpreting Supreme Court’s no jurisdiction judgment to mean a victory for the Masari faction?

“Does this not call to question the integrity of INEC? Will this singular act not overheat the polity in Katsina State and even at the national level? Didn’t the same INEC supervise the primaries of CPC which produced the Lado faction and even declared the Lado faction winners of the eventual general elections?

“I believe INEC should not toy with the sensitivity of Nigerians. It should let the sleeping dogs lie.”

Lado faction speaks

The sitting Yakubu Lado faction lawmakers had said that the apex court only denied jurisdiction in the matter and never directed that they be replaced.

One of them, Muktari Dandutse, said: “The judgment, as far as we are concerned, is that it is in our favour. The court said it has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Already we have contested the primaries and won.”
Clarifying the matter, their lawyer, Mr. Demola Bakare, said there was no truth in the reports that their mandates had been invalidated.

He said: “Subsequently, the Supreme Court said the court has no jurisdiction to determine which of the primaries was the right one, that it was not within the purview of the Supreme Court.

“The meaning is that no court can determine which of the CPC primaries is the proper one.

“As it is today, the Court of Appeal, based on the tribunal decision, has affirmed our own primaries as the candidates that participated and won election. As at today, there is one court order in favour of our client.

“As a matter of fact, they were not parties at the Supreme Court. They tried to join but the Supreme Court said no. Literally, the court said it will not interfere in intra-party matter. It does not in any way validate the candidacy of these other sides.

“They have been jubilating. But upon which order of this court are they the candidates of the party?”

Affected lawmakers

Those in the Senator Lado faction are: Senator Abdu Umar‘Yandoma, Katsina North; Senator Ahmad Stores, representing Katsina Central.

The other affected eight members of the House of Representatives are: Murtala Isa, Sabuwa-Faskari-Kankara Federal Constituency; Muntari Dandutse, Funtua-Dandume Constituency; Musa Salisu, Kankia-Kusada-Ingawa.

Others are: Aminu Ashiru, Mani-Bindawa Federal Constituency; Umar Katsayal, Daura-Mai’adua-Sandamu Constituency; Muhammad Tukur, Katsina Central; Tasi’u Doguro, Mashi-Dutsi Constituency and Abdu Dankama, representing Jibia-Kaita Federal Constituency.