••• Says Suspension was a move to silence him for refusing to Back Speaker Danladi 2027 Governorship Bid
The crisis within the Kwara State House of Assembly deepened as the suspended member representing Edu State Constituency, Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon, organized a press conference to challenge his three-month suspension and level serious allegations against the leadership, headed by Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi.
Hon. Gideon was suspended on December 18, 2025, for allegedly recording a closed-door meeting and sharing the audio with an unauthorized person, a charge he denied was a recording of a formal proceeding.
Addressing Newsmen through a Press conference on Saturday, Hon. Gideon fiercely contested the legitimacy of his suspension, arguing that it did not follow due process, which requires referral to the Committee of Ethics and Privileges for a fair hearing and investigation before debate on the floor.
He vehemently denied recording any official legislative proceeding, claiming the recorded discussion was mere gossiping that took place in the Speaker’s personal office, not in the plenary or a committee meeting.
“What really transpired on that particular day was the issue of gossiping in the right-wing speaker’s personal office, and even the gossiping was a rumor. I can tell you that even if there was any proceeding, which was evident, nobody can tell me as an explanation that you can hold a proceeding in the speaker’s office.” He said.
Hon. Gideon further challenged the Assembly leadership to produce the formal records, stating that the House has not even held a proper closed-session meeting (post-section) or conducted oversight functions for over two years, indicating a general lack of legislative agenda beyond approving executive projects.
The Lawmaker attributed his suspension and the move to silence him to his refusal to back the Speaker’s alleged 2027 political ambition and alleged plot to undermine his own political future.
The major problem I was having with them was that I am not supporting right Honourable Speaker Yakubu Danladi, He said.
He recounted a shocking incident in the Speaker’s office where the House Leader, Hon. Magaji, mandated members to pray for the Speaker to become the next Governor, a demand he said he refused.
“The leader of the House, Hon. Magaji, stood up and now said that I should stand up and pray for Rt Hon. Speaker to become governor comes 2027, I said, I take objection to that, I’m not God.” He added.
Gideon claimed that this refusal led to his exclusion from a “secret WhatsApp group” created for 21 members to discuss the Speaker’s ambition, isolating him and two other members due to fears of their alignment with Ambassador Yahaya Seriki and Senator Sadiq Umar.
The lawmaker admitted to recording an audio (the one cited in his suspension) but justified it as self-defense after being threatened by the Speaker.
“If you can threaten me with record, and you say you have the record, I will also record your voice. So that I will be able to threaten you with recording. So that is why I said if I’m a talkative today, you caused it, and if I’m a recorder of any audio today, you caused it because you are the first to do it.”, He added.
He also accused the Speaker of revealing private communications to his constituents, citing an example of a cow he bought for Christmas that was also publicized by the Speaker in his constituency.
Regarding the accusation that he was trying to move a motion to suspend mining activities, Hon. Gideon challenged the claim and the legal premise, stating that he told them that he’s not ignorant, adding that the operations or the regulations of the mining activities is not under state control; it is controlled by the federal.”
He referred to the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, which vests control of all mineral resources in the Federal Government, placing mining on the Exclusive Legislative List. State governments can only interfere in ancillary issues like land use and security, not in the primary regulation or suspension of licensed activities.
The suspension of Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon on December 18, 2025, over the secret recording was publicly reported and stated to be for three months, citing Order 4, Rule 14 of the House Rules on Privileges and Section 14(2) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.
In his remarks, He further added the Speaker has no any right to suspend any members of the State House of Assembly beyond 48 hours adding that these clarifications are necessary to keep Kwarans most importantly his constituents abraze on the truth of the matters.