The 16 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers who were sacked by the Court of Appeal were barred on Tuesday from entering the Plateau State House of Assembly while the Speaker of the House, Hon. Gabriel Dewan, simply declared, “For now, only eight members will be allowed to resume legislative business.”
Even as the Speaker said he has a court injunction restraining him from inaugurating the APC members.
The sacked lawmakers on Tuesday had threatened to resume legislative duties on Tuesday, claiming that the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Governor Caleb Muftwang also involved them.
On Tuesday, the present eight members of the House could not properly sit after a long vacation as the Assembly complex was under renovation while there was a heavy deployment of security men to the House to prevent a break of law and order.
The Nigerian Tribune observed that the sitting of the House was brief because of the unconducive nature of the complex.
Speaking with newsmen after the brief sitting, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Gabriel Dewan, said at the moment there were only eight recognized members of the House adding that those on both sides of the divide, the APC and PDP were not members for now.
According to him, since the 32 members had their certificates of return and laid claim to their mandates, it would be unlawful to admit them into the chambers.
He said, “For now, only eight members will be sitting. I have a court injunction restraining the House from inaugurating the 16 APC members. Yes, they have their certificates of return issued to them by INEC, but they can’t be inaugurated until the final determination or vacation of the injunction.
The Speaker, who refused to disclose the person who instituted the case, said that until the suit is determined by the court of law, he cannot admit the 16 APC lawmakers into the House.
The sacked PDP members who arrived at the gate of the State House of Assembly as early as 8:45 am along with their supporters were prevented from accessing the house while their supporters were forced to leave the venue by the stern-looking security men.
The Nigerian Tribune observed that while police deployed to the house while trying to manage the chaotic situation at the gate of the house, a generator of tear gas suddenly went off, thus causing pandemonium within the vicinity.
The eight lawmakers who came into the Assembly by bus later left together and headed towards the Governor’s House. Meanwhile, security men have taken over the House.
