The Peoples Democratic Party has reacted to the arrest of some members of the Zamfara state House of Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Security for planning to impeach Governor Abdulaziz Yari.

The party said the DSS hand no right to stop the lawmakers from performing their legislative duties.

The PDP made the call on its official Twitter handle (@PDPNigeria) on Thursday as it demanded the immediate release of the lawmakers from the DSS custody.

… State Security Service for the performance of their legislative duties as provided for by the Constitution. 2/2

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

2. A press release by the Chairman ZSHA Committee on Information indicate that the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader… 1/4

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

… , other principal members of the ZSHA & suporting staff have been arrested & detained for investigating Gov. A. A. Yari on the… 2/4

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

… the grounds of abuse of office, misappropriation of statutory allocations, misappropriation of bailout funds, appointment of… 3/4

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

.. of Assembly or several days without charge for the performance of his legislative duties as provided for by the constitution. 2/2

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

4. We are concerned that the arrest & detention is being carried out in contravention of Section 3 of the…1/3 pic.twitter.com/HqBTjuRs0Q

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

Legislative Houses (Powers & Privileges) Act which protects members of the Legislature from prosecution for the performance of… 2/3

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

… their lawful duties as provided for by the Constitution. 3/3

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

5. We feel the need to speak up as this action, carried out in the manner of the unlawful arrest & detention of Mr. Akanni Afolabi… 1/3

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

… of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, is a threat to our democracy, is a violation of the legislature and exposes the lack… 2/3

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

… of respect this administration has for the rule of law. 3/3

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

6. For the avoidance of doubt, we posit that the DSS not only lacks the power to arrest members of the ZSHA or…1/4 pic.twitter.com/Sb0CRFoj6d

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

… any Legislative House for carrying out their lawful duties, but also ought not to be used as a tool with which to harass real… 2/4

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

… or perceived political enemies. For the purposes of clarity, the DSS was established by S3 of the National Security Agencies Act… 3/4

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

… to carry out the following functions – 4/4 pic.twitter.com/D964uMvbL5

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

7. We speak up in this manner because a threat to democracy anywhere is a threat to democracy everywhere. We urge the DSS to… 1/3

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

… immediately release the lawmakers and to refrain from being used by politicians as a tool to harass… 2/3

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016

… and intimidate opponents. 3/3

— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) July 21, 2016