The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase has dismissed reports on alleged bias in a ruling on a petition by the Member Representing Gwer East and West Federal Constituency of Benue State, Mark Gbaillah that Nigerians in the Diaspora have no right to petition the House.
This follows what he called malicious reports in some media outlets on the matter which had gone viral after the encounter between the two Lawmakers on the 10th of March.
According to the Deputy Speaker, reports about him saying Nigerians in the diaspora have no right to petition the House is malicious intent, targeted at giving political and ethnic colouration to the ruling which he says was only based on parliamentary procedures.
The Deputy Speaker in a statement also explained that the House of Representatives is accessible to all Nigerians irrespective of where they reside.
Wase further explained that the controversial ruling is that the petition was not brought in the name of an individual but as an association of Tiv people living in the United States of America which he says is not registered as a Corporate Entity as required by Law.
He however added that as an arm of government there are laid down procedures that ought to be followed in the Parliament which is also the case in other Government establishments.
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Wase added that he upholds the fundamental rights of all Nigerians both home and in the Diaspora to the freedom of speech, association, and the right to hold an opinion as provided in the Constitution.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)
