Reps bow to pressure, to swear-in Benue female lawmaker after recess

Indications have emerged that the House of Representatives will swear-in Dorathy Mato, who was declared by the Supreme Court as the authentic winner of the March 28, 2015, general elections as duly elected representative for Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency of Benue state.

She is expected to replace Rep. Herman Hembe, the erstwhile chairman of the House Committee on FCT.

But since the apex court delivered its judgment on June 23, the leadership of the House has failed to swear her in despite several attempts made the Benue politician to that effect.

The delay in her swearing her in has forced Mato and her supporters to accuse the House leadership of frustrating her attempts to occupy her seat and discharge her responsibilities as an elected lawmaker.

However, Chairman, House Committee on Information and Public Affairs, Rep. Abdulrazaq Namdas, gave a ray of hope on Thursday when he informed journalists that the female lawmaker is likely to be sworn-in when the House resumes plenary from its six-week annual recess.

Rep. Namdas said that by the time the House resumes from recess, Mato would have completed all the processes for her to be sworn-in as Hembe’s replacement.

“Our tenure hasn’t lapsed. We’re going on break and when she’s through, we can still swear her in.

“The recess is a constitutional matter and when we return, we will conduct our legislative business,” he added.

Namdas declared that the law provides for anyone coming to the House or holding any elective position, such a person must pass through a process which is the election.

“You can’t be sleeping in your house without going through a process and then you go and obtain a court order or ruling to achieve your ambition,” he stated.