A detachment of Nigerian Police who were armed to the teeth, on Tuesday in Jos, Plateau state, attacked the 16 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the State House of Assembly who were sacked by the Court of Appeal in their attempt to resume sitting.
Trouble started when the lawmakers arrived at the Rayfield Old Government House in Jos on Tuesday morning alongside their supporters preparing to form a parallel sitting, but were all waylaid by policemen upon their resumption of the plenary.
The policemen and other security operatives took over the premises of the Old Government House and prevented the sacked lawmakers from going into the chambers of the House of Assembly as they engaged them with teargas to dispatch them, but were resisted by the disgruntled lawmakers.
The supporters of the lawmakers have now joined the demonstration despite the efforts of the security to stop them from entering the house.
The 16 Lawmakers were sacked from the Assembly by the Court of Appeal in a judgment that was later faulted by the Apex Court
The sacked members have resolved to resume legislative duties on Tuesday. The legislators made their decision known when they briefed journalists yesterday in Jos.
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The lawmakers who were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had their election nullified by the court for having a political structure in the state.
Taking a cue from the apex court’s judgment that reversed the removal of the state Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, the lawmakers claimed that they were only on recess and would resume duties on Tuesday.
The spokesperson of the group, Ishaku Maren, said that while they were in recess, two judgments were delivered regarding the status of the Plateau State House of Assembly.
Mr Maren, who was the majority leader of the assembly before the Appeal Court judgement, stated that they were a product of democracy and were validly elected by the majority of votes that were cast in their various constituencies.
“It was even in the words of the Supreme Court that that Appeal Court judgement was a miscarriage of justice.
“I want to also state that even in law, it says that if there is an injury, there will certainly be a remedy.
“Our constituents are willing and ready to accompany us to the assembly tomorrow because they voted for us, and they are not ready to compromise that,” the embattled lawmaker stated.
