The decision by eight lawmakers out of the twenty-four members at the Plateau State House of Assembly to impeach Ayuba Abok as the Speaker was greeted with confusion at the Assembly complex on Thursday morning.
The Speaker who is a first-term lawmaker from the Jos East state constituency was immediately replaced by the lawmaker representing Pengana constituency, Yakubu Sanda of the All Progressives Congress.
This action has propelled the Nigerian security operatives to take over the Plateau State House of Assembly, as there is a heavy presence of security operatives at the Assembly, Thursday.
The lawmaker representing Rukuba/Irigwe constituency in the state House of Assembly, Musa Agah who confirmed the development to The PUNCH in Jos on Thursday described the action of the lawmakers as “the height of illegality”
Explaining how the Speaker was removed, Agah said, “It was this morning (Thursday) that some few members rushed to the Plateau state House of Assembly as early as 6 am. You know the state House of Assembly is made up of 24 members and the constitutional requirement for the removal of the Speaker is 2/3 majority which is 16 members.
“So, eight lawmakers rushed to the Assembly this morning against the House rules that say that plenary commences from 9 am and even if there is going to be an extraordinary sitting, the Speaker is the one who is empowered to convene but that did not happen. When some of us got wind of what was happening, we rushed to the Assembly complex only to discover that Security operatives had barricaded everywhere. Some of us were stopped from gaining access to the Assembly complex while they also harassed others.
“While the confusion was going on, the eight members said they have passed a vote of no confidence on the Speaker and went ahead to purportedly remove the speaker.”
Consequently, the security operatives have taken over the Plateau State House of Assembly, as there is a heavy presence of security operatives at the Assembly, Thursday.
It was learnt that as early as 5:30 am on Thursday, the road leading to the Assembly complex located along John Mark Samci road in Jos, the state capital has been barricaded while traffic is being diverted to other routes.
Quoting a source, The PUNCH on Thursday said, ” I just woke up this morning to see the police and other security operatives everywhere. We can’t even go out with our vehicles because the road has been blocked. My concern is how to take the children to school. We are stranded at the moment.”
It was gathered that the security operatives were drafted to the Assembly complex to prevent a breakdown of law and order over alleged plans to impeach the House of Assembly Speaker, Ayuba Abok. It was also gathered that some lawmakers are currently sitting at the Assembly complex.
