Chaos In Pleateu Assembly as Lawmakers Exchange Blows

The sitting of the Plateau state House of Assembly was on Thursday disrupted following a free-for-all among members.

Journalists covering the session as well as staff of the assembly were sent out of the chambers before the fight started.

But some of the lawmakers, who asked not to be named, said the closed-door session was marked by prolonged physical violence as some members disputed the item on the “order paper” for the day.

According to the lawmakers, the Speaker, Peter Azi (member representing Jos north west) insisted that the first item on the “order paper” should be the communication of the governor, which contained the list of proposed transition committee chairmen sent to the legislature for approval.

The sitting could not hold eventually as members engaged in fighting, lasting about 15 minutes before security agents intervened.

The Assembly was turned upside down, chairs were broken, and the clerk of the assembly saved the mace, our sources said.

The lawmakers declined to speak with journalists after their stand-off.

Members elected on the platform of the PDP had walked out on the speaker, Mr. Azi, during Tuesday’s sitting when he attempted reading a list from the governor on the persons to replace the sacked council chairmen.

The councillors of the 17 local government council areas, who were also sacked alongside their chairmen, were also beaten at the assembly complex on Wednesday, when PDP and APC supporters clashed over the dissolution of the councils.

Governor Simon Lalong recently sacked the executive council chairmen of the 17 local councils, whose tenure should have ended in February 2017.

Source: Premiumtimesng