The Concerned Citizens Network for Democracy (CCND) has given the Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly a 72-hour ultimatum to recall all suspended lawmakers or face legal action seeking to halt statutory monthly allocations to the two states.

In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Moses Adamu, the group’s Secretary-General, CCND accused the state governments of supervising an ongoing constitutional breach, stressing that both Houses of Assembly currently lack the legal quorum required to function and pass appropriation laws.

The group threatened to file a suit at the Federal High Court to compel the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold monthly FAAC disbursements until constitutional order is restored.

“This is not just an internal matter within the legislature of two states. It is a clear case of abuse of democratic institutions, where state governors, in collaboration with the speakers, are running their states without the minimum legislative legitimacy required by law. It is a rape of democracy,” Adamu said.

According to CCND, both Benue and Zamfara Assemblies have unlawfully suspended nearly half of their members, leaving behind insufficient numbers to meet the constitutionally stipulated two-thirds quorum. Yet, these minority legislators continue to sit, deliberate, and pass critical motions — including budget-related matters.

“No House of Assembly can validly function, debate, or legislate without a legal quorum. When the majority of duly elected lawmakers are suspended under questionable circumstances, the assembly ceases to be legitimate. This undermines every law, appropriation, and oversight action carried out by the remaining minority members.”

He added that the direct consequence of this illegality is that both governors — Hyacinth Alia of Benue and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara — are currently running governments that no longer have the endorsement of their state assemblies as constituted by law.

“Without a legally constituted assembly, any action taken by the executive lacks the moral and legal seal of the people. These governors are not kings. They are elected heads of government, expected to govern with legislative oversight and institutional balance,” he added.

CCND argued that the only peaceful and constitutional means to correct the ongoing abuse is to apply financial pressure by halting monthly allocations until the crisis is resolved.

“Public funds are being released to state executives who are acting outside of constitutional provisions. The CBN and the Accountant General of the Federation must not continue to fund illegality. By continuing to disburse FAAC allocations to Benue and Zamfara states, federal institutions are aiding and abetting constitutional violations,” the statement added.

The group likened the current situation to a private company operating without a functioning board of directors, stating that no legitimate financial institution would continue to release money in such circumstances.

“The state Houses of Assembly are the people’s boardrooms. You cannot suspend half the directors and claim to be conducting lawful business.”

Beyond the technical breach, the group raised concerns over the pattern of political intimidation behind the suspensions. In both states, suspended lawmakers are known critics of the executive arm, and many were removed after raising concerns about security, budget implementation and constituency project transparency.

“This is not about disorderly conduct or gross misconduct as the speakers claim. This is about silencing opposition, clearing the path for unchecked control, and removing voices that demand transparency. It is dictatorship in democratic clothing,” the group said.

Adamu said the CCND had credible information that some of the suspended lawmakers in Benue were denied access to the assembly complex and had their benefits frozen without due process.

The group warned that the failure of civil society, federal institutions, and the judiciary to respond firmly to the situation could set a dangerous precedent where governors, in collaboration with pliant speakers, cripple state assemblies and rule without accountability.

“If this pattern continues unchecked, governors across the country will see it as a playbook: suspend dissenters, shrink the assembly, rule without scrutiny, and get paid for it. Nigeria’s democracy is too fragile to permit such a loophole,” the statement read.

The CCND said it is giving the governments of Benue and Zamfara three days to recall all suspended members and reinstate the constitutional balance of their assemblies.

“If by the end of 72 hours there is no concrete step to resolve this, our lawyers will file a suit asking the Federal High Court to declare the current assemblies illegal and compel the federal government to freeze statutory allocations until due process is restored,” Adamu concluded.

Prophetic Confirmation: Prophet Kingsley Aitafo’s Revelation Unfolds Again

Renowned prophetic voice and spiritual leader Prophet Kingsley Aitafo, has once again stirred spiritual and global conversations with the fulfillment of one of his recent prophecies—this time concerning the alarming escalation of military tensions between India and Pakistan.

In a previously shared prophetic message, the seer warned:

“Let us continue to pray against a third world war. I see something like a mini-war. Also, let us gather and pray against another ailment coming to the earth—one more deadly than COVID-19.”

As of today, these words have taken on a troubling resonance. India and Pakistan have reportedly entered their most intense military confrontation in decades, with hostilities extending well beyond the long-disputed Kashmir region. Multiple credible international reports confirm drone and missile attacks between the nations, sparking fears of a broader conflict.

Stephanie Bennett, reporting from London, noted:

“It’s the biggest military conflict in decades between India and Pakistan, and there’s no clear end in sight. What began in Kashmir has rapidly escalated into widespread artillery and drone warfare, with both sides claiming to be acting in retaliation.”

Despite assurances from Indian forces of a desire to avoid further escalation, tensions remain dangerously high. Both countries, equipped with nuclear capabilities, are under global scrutiny as concerns mount over the potential for further escalation into a catastrophic war.

Each side denies initiating the aggression, placing blame squarely on retaliatory measures. However, with rhetoric intensifying and the threat of nuclear engagement looming, international observers are calling for immediate de-escalation and diplomatic intervention.

This latest development raises concerns on the geopolitical front and highlights the prophetic accuracy of Prophet Aitafo’s warnings, sparking renewed calls for prayer, spiritual sensitivity, and preparedness in uncertain times.

As his warnings continue to unfold with uncanny accuracy, many are asking: Are we heeding the signs, or ignoring divine instructions?

An advocacy group, the Northern Socio-Political Rights Network (NSPRN), says it turned down a N200 million bribe offered by proxies linked to the Zamfara State Government to mobilise a protest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna, the group’s president, Mohammed Farouk Lawal, said the offer was made to them through third-party emissaries earlier this week, with clear instructions to publicly accuse President Tinubu’s administration of shielding Matawalle from corruption investigations.

Lawal said the plot was part of a calculated campaign to weaken the federal government’s hold on the North-West by discrediting key appointees loyal to the president.

“We were approached by individuals claiming to represent high-ranking officials in Zamfara. They offered us N200 million to organise a large-scale protest in Abuja, targeting President Tinubu and Dr. Matawalle,” Lawal said.

“The aim was to give the impression that the North has turned against the president and that there is widespread outrage over perceived protection of certain ministers from investigation. We rejected the offer outright.”

He alleged that the same network had already funded previous protests using other groups and was aggressively scouting for new voices to legitimise its campaign.

“They are desperate for credibility. When they realised that our group has a clean record and strong grassroots following in the North, they thought buying us over would amplify their lies. But we are not for sale,” Lawal said.

According to him, some of the terms of the deal included reading out pre-written scripts at press conferences, staging a protest at the EFCC headquarters, and creating viral videos calling for Matawalle’s arrest.

The NSPR Network said the offer confirms that recent protests against the Minister of State for Defence were not grassroots-driven but part of a “state-funded blackmail operation”.

“What is happening is an internal war against Tinubu’s appointees. We have it on good authority that these attacks are designed to cause disaffection ahead of 2027. But this group will not be part of it,” Lawal declared.

The group commended President Tinubu for appointing northern leaders with capacity and defended Matawalle as one of the few former governors actively supporting military efforts to curb banditry and terrorism in the North.

“While some are busy funding protests, the minister is helping to secure our region. Nigerians must see through this charade,” Lawal added.

The group urged security agencies to probe the source of funds allegedly being used to sponsor political protests in the capital, warning that if unchecked, such actions could pose a threat to national stability.