ARMED policemen, on Tuesday, teargassed the 16 Peoples Democratic Party members of the Plateau State House of Assembly who were sacked by the Court of Appeal.
The lawmakers had arrived at the Rayfield Old Government House in Jos on Tuesday morning alongside their supporters preparatory to their resumption of plenary when the incident happened.
The policemen and other security operatives took over the premises of the Government House and prevented the sacked lawmakers from going into the chambers of the House of Assembly but the lawmakers had vowed not to vacate the premises.
Recall, addressing journalists in Jos, the state capital yesterday, the sacked PDP members through the former Majority Leader, Ishaku Maren, posited that the Supreme Court verdict which affirmed Governor Caleb Mutfwang as the duly elected governor of the state should also be applicable to the state lawmakers that were sacked by the appellate court.
However, APC members, in reaction to the intent of PDP members to resume plenary session, described the action as insensitive to the rule of law and invitation to anarchy.
Sixteen members of the PDP were removed by the appellate court for lack of structure while the APC and Labour Party are beneficiaries of the judgement.
Though Certificates of Return have been issued to APC and Labour Party members in accordance to the directives of the judgement, they are yet to be inaugurated since the House has been on recess since last December.
More details shortly…
