There are strong indications that the Bayelsa State House of Assembly risks sanction for its refusal to swear in three elected opposition members months after the Court of Appeal ruling, declaring them the winners of their respective constituencies.

It was learnt that the Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has concluded plans to compel the Assembly to conduct the swearing-in or risk sanctions.


 
The Speaker of the Peoples Democratic Party-dominated House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, has reportedly refused entreaties to swear in the three opposition lawmakers-elect.

The affected lawmakers are Watson Belemote of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, representing Brass Constituency 2; Gibson Munalayefa of the Labour Party for Ogbia Constituency 2 and Gabriel Ogbara of the African Democratic Congress for Ogbia Constituency 3.

They were declared winners of their constituencies four months ago by the Court of Appeal, which sat in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The leadership of the House had ignored the ruling but had quickly inaugurated the PDP members who won the March rerun.

It was learnt that the aggrieved lawmakers-elect petitioned Malami, attaching the copies of the judgments and their Certificates of Return issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Malami, who later reportedly met with the aggrieved elected lawmakers, was said to have frowned on the development, describing it as a breach of the constitution and an affront to the rule of law.

A source in the AGF’s office, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed on Thursday that the minister had received the complaints of the lawmakers-elect, stressing the matter was receiving the AGF’s attention.

He said a department in the minister’s office had been directed to draft and send a letter of warning to Benson and the House.

He said the office had concluded discussions on the matter and would issue a 48-hour ultimatum to Benson to swear-in the elected members.

The source added, “What is happening in Bayelsa State is a flagrant abuse of the constitution and the rule of law. It is also a matter of national security and the Office of the Attorney-General, under the dispensation of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, will not tolerate it.”