The Speaker of the [Zamfara State House of Assembly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamfara_State_House_of_Assembly), Rt. Hon. Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, clarified that the eight legislators who recently announced their defection from the [All Progressives Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Progressives_Congress) had been suspended from the chamber long before the alleged switch.
The Speaker said the members were suspended on 26 February 2024 after accusations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the House and convening an illegal sitting in breach of the [Standing Orders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_orders) of the Assembly.
According to the House, the alleged misconduct went beyond mere procedural breaches.
The suspended lawmakers were accused of conduct resembling burglary, forcible entry and destruction of public property, including reports that they broke into the offices of the Clerk and the Sergeant‑at‑Arms, forced their way into the Legislative Chamber, damaged Assembly assets and then convened an unauthorised sitting.
The gravity of the accusations prompted the filing of a criminal complaint against the suspended members before a competent court.
Reacting to the reported defection, Rt. Hon. Moriki described it as an effort by the suspended members to shift public focus away from the substantive disciplinary matters surrounding their suspension and to create a false impression of instability within the Assembly.
He stated, “The Zamfara State House of Assembly is stable, functional and fully engaged in its constitutional duties. The alleged defection of members who remain under suspension cannot be used as evidence of disorder in the House.
“These members were suspended for alleged gross misconduct and serious breaches of the Standing Orders of the House, including accusations of forceful entry into Assembly offices, destruction of public property and the convening of an unauthorised legislative sitting.
“Their suspension was therefore not a result of any current political decision. It predates the purported defection and stems from disciplinary issues within the Assembly.”
The Speaker further noted that on 13 May 2026 the House voted to extend the suspension into another legislative session because the disciplinary matters and breaches of House rules remained unresolved.
He added that two other legislators who had previously been suspended later offered apologies to the House and were reinstated, showing that the disciplinary actions were not driven by political bias or aimed at any particular party.
Rt. Hon. Moriki also rejected claims that the Assembly lacks the capacity to conduct its business, emphasizing that the chamber currently has 16 active members and continues to operate in line with the Constitution and its Standing Orders.
“The House held its plenary last Tuesday and is slated to reconvene on Monday. There is therefore no basis for portraying the Zamfara State House of Assembly as being in disarray,” the Speaker said.
He urged the public to separate the political choices of the suspended legislators from the long‑standing disciplinary proceedings against them, stressing that a change of party does not erase or invalidate matters of legislative discipline or pending legal actions arising from alleged misconduct.
The Speaker reaffirmed the commitment of the Assembly’s leadership and members to the rule of law, legislative integrity and the protection of public institutions and property.