Over 60 percent of the lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly lost their bids during the just concluded party primaries to return to the Assembly in
2019.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the lawmakers met their waterloo in the hands of delegates to the primary elections because of their inability to perform their constitutional obligations since their election into the state legislature.
It was learnt that the affected lawmakers failed to deliver in their responsibilities to their constituencies in the last three and a half years.
Our correspondent, who monitored the primaries across the 13 local government areas of the state, gathered from constituents that the lawmakers had nothing to showcase to justify their return, despite the huge amount of money they allegedly collected as constituency allowances.
Some of the lawmakers denied collecting any money from the state government as constituency allowance, saying that was why they were incapacitated in caring out projects for the benefit of the people.
During one of the stakeholders meeting with political bigwigs in the state, Governor Umar Al-Makura said that the lawmakers got everything due to them from the state government without delay.
At the meeting, Governor Al-Makura challenged all the lawmakers to counter his claim of giving them their dues, but none of them said a word.
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has a total of 24 members out of which two belong to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Our correspondent’s investigation further revealed that only eight out of the 20 APC lawmakers secured their return tickets during the last primary election while only one out of the two of PDP members got the party delegates’ nod to fly the party’s flag in the 2019 general elections.
Some of the delegates to the APC primary election said that they decided to substitute the old lawmakers with fresh blood because the former failed to perform, adding many of them were just bench warmers in the legislature while the others made themselves inaccessible to the electorate.
They also accused the state lawmakers of non-implementation of constituency projects and deception.
Some of the state lawmakers that have failed to secure return tickets in 2019 include a third term member, Peter Ombochu, representing Akwanga North; One timer from Obi 2 constituency, Emos Agya from Obi 2 Constituency and Yahaya Rilwanu, representing Awe South.
Others are Bala Moscolo representing Keffi West twice; his colleague from Keffi East, Ibrahim Scatter and member representing Lafia Central, Abubakar Imam Zanwa.
Members representing Nasarawa Eggon and Wamba constituencies, respectively, Godiya Akwashiki, who is the deputy speaker of the assembly; and Makpa Malah, the chief whip, have technically relinquished their seats for the Senate and House of Representatives tickets.
