DSS arrest of lawmakers: PDP fumes, makes demands

– PDP has condemned the arrest and detention of some principal officers of the Zamfara state House of Assembly by DSS operatives

– The party called for their immediate release

– The PDP said the DSS ought not to be used as a tool to harass perceived political enemies

The Peoples Democratic Party has reacted to the arrest and detention of some members of the Zamfara state House of Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Security.

Operatives of the DSS were said to have arrested speaker, Alhaji Sanusi Garba Rikiji; his deputy, Muhammad Abubakar Gumi; the majority leader, Isah Abdulmumini and the chief whip, Abdullahi Dansadau of the Zamfara state House of Assembly for plotting to impeach Governor Abdulaziz Yari.

In a series of tweets, the opposition party condemned the arrest, demanding the immediate release of the lawmakers from the DSS custody.

READ ALSO: Lawmakers vow to impeach Governor Abdulaziz Yari

The party faulted the security agents, saying they had no right to arrest the lawmakers for performing their legislative duties as provided for by the Constitution.

The PDP said: “These arrests follow a previously threaded path where the DSS arrested and detained Mr. Akanni Afolabi of the Ekiti state House of Assembly for several days without charge for the performance of his legislative duties as provided for by the constitution.

“We are concerned that the arrest and detention is being carried out in contravention of Section 3 of the Legislative Houses (Powers & Privileges) Act which protects members of the Legislature from prosecution for the performance of their lawful duties as provided for by the Constitution.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we posit that the DSS not only lacks the power to arrest members of the ZSHA or any Legislative House for carrying out their lawful duties, but also ought not to be used as a tool with which to harass real or perceived political enemies.”

READ ALSO: Zamfara speaker, others arrested for plotting to impeach Yari

The party noted that a threat to democracy anywhere is a threat to democracy everywhere.

The opposition party therefore called on the DSS to refrain from being used by politicians as a tool to harass and intimidate opponents.

A statement earlier released by the chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Information, Mannir Gidan-Jaja, claimed Governor Yari misappropriated billions of naira from the state treasury.

The governor was also accused of failing to remit fund deducted from pension of workers.

6. For the avoidance of doubt, we posit that the DSS not only lacks the power to arrest members of the ZSHA or…1/4 pic.twitter.com/Sb0CRFoj6d

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 21, 2016

… or perceived political enemies. For the purposes of clarity, the DSS was established by S3 of the National Security Agencies Act… 3/4

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 21, 2016

… to carry out the following functions – 4/4 pic.twitter.com/D964uMvbL5

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 21, 2016

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