Jigawa Assembly suspend council speaker over alleged APC anti-party activity

The Jigawa State House of Assembly has suspended the Speaker of Auyo Legislative Council, Haruna Maigari, over allegations of anti-party activities said to be affecting the unity of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the grassroots level.

The decision was announced during Tuesday’s plenary session held at the Assembly complex in Dutse, amid ongoing tensions within the party following its recent primary elections.

According to reports, the suspension is part of a growing wave of disciplinary actions within the APC in Jigawa State following the conduct of the primaries. Party officials reportedly accused Maigari of actions considered detrimental to the party’s cohesion and interests.

The development highlights ongoing tensions within the APC in the state, with party leaders seeking to address internal disputes and maintain unity ahead of future political engagements. Further details regarding the duration of the suspension and specific allegations against the council speaker were not immediately available.

Several special advisers and special assistants have already been suspended statewide over alleged anti-party activities from state level down to local government level.

Maigari, who doubles as the councillor representing Auyo Ward, was suspended after the House considered a motion by the Majority Leader, Lawan Dansure.

The motion sought disciplinary action against the lawmaker for conduct deemed harmful to party cohesion.

Moving the motion during the Assembly’s plenary session on Tuesday, Dansure urged members to support the suspension.

He said the House must act to protect the integrity of the ruling party ahead of 2027.

According to him, the actions of the Speaker of Auyo Legislative Council are detrimental to the unity, stability, and progress of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

“His actions are detrimental to the unity, stability, and progress of the All Progressives Congress,” Dansure told the House.

He argued that anti-party conduct at the grassroots level could undermine APC’s performance in future elections.

Reacting after the motion was adopted, Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Haruna Dangyatin, announced the suspension of the councillor with immediate effect.

He said the House could not fold its arms while party discipline was being tested.

“Hon. Haruna Maigari is hereby suspended as Speaker of Auyo Legislative Council over alleged anti-party activities,” Dangyatin announced during plenary.

The Speaker also said the House remains committed to party discipline at all levels of governance in the state.

Dangyatin then constituted an investigative committee to look into the matter and report back within two weeks.

“The committee is expected to establish facts and recommend further action based on its findings,” he said.

The Speaker also directed the suspended lawmaker to hand over all official documents in his possession to the Deputy Speaker of Auyo Legislative Council.

He said the handover must be done immediately to ensure continuity of council business.

Meanwhile, the House also received a formal notification from Governor Umar Namadi regarding an official trip.

“The governor is billed to attend a two-day West African Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra, Ghana,” the Speaker said during the plenary session of the Assembly.

Dangyatin, who explained that the governor’s foreign engagement will hold between June 2 and June 3, 2026, added that “the governor’s participation is aimed at attracting investment to Jigawa’s rice value chain.