Nigeria, April 16 -- Under the Nigerian Constitution, Section 11(4) gives the National Assembly power to step in and legislate for a State only when the House of Assembly of that State is unable to perform its functions. But that same section ends with an important caveat. It makes it clear that this power does not extend to the removal of a State Governor or Deputy Governor. That clause may appear minor, but it is a very deep and clear pointer. It defines the limit of the National Assembly's reach. It signals that this provision was never designed to function in the absence of a valid and functioning executive authority in the State.

Section 11(4) presumes that the Governor and Deputy Governor are still in office, still validly elected,...