Members of the Benue State House of Assembly on Friday scaled the fence of the Assembly Complex into the premises in an attempt to hold a parliamentary session.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both the impeached speaker, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange (APC Ushongo) and his successor, Mr Titus Ubah, (APC Kyaan) were at the premises, both laying claim to the post of speaker.
Supporters of both sides who were prevented from gaining entry into the main lobby of the complex to hold their meetings forced their way into the premises through the high wall.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Yamu, refused to either answer calls to his telephone line or reply text messages sent to him on the matter.
DAILY POST recalls that Ikyange was removed by 21 of 30 members of the House during an emergency sitting.
Ikyange, however, stated that he remained the speaker since the right procedure was not followed in the impeachment process.
He said, ‘’since the House was under adjournment, there are only two principal officers who could reconvene it, namely, the speaker and the deputy speaker, none of the two officers reconvened the assembly.’’
On the other hand, lawmakers loyal to the new speaker quoted the Standing Rules of the House to justify their action.
They claimed that in the absence of the two presiding officers, they could elect a pro-tempo speaker to preside.
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