Plateau Speaker bars 16 APC lawmakers  from Plenary

The Speaker of the Plateau State Assembly, Gabriel Dewan has prevented the All Progressive Congress (APC), 16 members of the State Assembly who were returned by the Appeal Court from resuming plenary today January 23, 2024.

The drama that happened at the gate of the old government house in Jos, venue of the make-shift Assembly sitting since the sack of the 16 PDP lawmakers, did not witness any tear gassing, journalists and police officers stationed at the entrance of the old government house confirmed.

The members could not resume at the House of Assembly because it has been under an alleged renovation, our correspondent says.

Also, the sacked 16 PDP lawmakers could also not gain entrance into the make-shift Assembly venue, our correspondent also reports.

However, the Speaker while addressing journalists said he has a court order stopping the 16 APC members from gaining access into the House.

He also said the court injunction would also not allow him to readmit the 16 PDP lawmakers who were sacked by the Appeal Court.

It would be recalled that the House had resumed following a long recess after the Court of Appeal had sacked the 16 members of the People’s Democratic Party.

“Since the 16 APC members and the 16 PDP members are laying claim to their mandates, it would be unlawful to admit them into the chambers.

“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 said.

He did not however disclose who instituted the suit.

However, on the issue of teargas, our correspondent gathered that it was not deliberate as the teargas went off from one of the policemen in an attempt to disperse the crowd.