From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin
Gunshots allegedly fired from the riffle of a police orderly attached to a lawmaker in the Edo State House of Assembly created pandemonium in the area, forcing an ongoing plenary session to an abrupt end, as the legislators scampered for safety.
The development heightened the already charged political atmosphere in the House between lawmakers loyal to Governor Adams Oshiomhole and those of the former leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Pastory Osagie Ize Iyamu, who along with other aggrieved members resigned their membership of the party on Monday.
Members of staff of the Assembly were seen gathered in clusters discussing the incident and it was gathered that the police orderly, whose identity could not be ascertained, was being quizzed by the security operatives within the assembly complex.
However, some other sources claimed that the gunshots were from some thugs hanging around the complex in anticipation of a likely leadership change in the House.