Thousands of protesters besieged the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday demanding the immediate reinstatement of former Senate majority leader, Ali Ndume.

The protesters arrived early at the National Assembly complex, blocking the gate and wielding placards bearing inscriptions that criticised the decision by the Senate to suspend Ndume.

Some of them said they were natives of southern Borno but mostly live in the Mararaba and Masaka areas of neighbouring Nasarawa State.

Ndume represents Borno South senatorial district at the Senate.

The lawmakers last week voted to suspend Senator Ndume for failing to do proper investigation before raising forgery allegations against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Kogi State lawmaker, Dino Melaye.

The decision to suspend Ndume was taken after the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges absolved the Senate President of allegations of importing a Range Rover SUV, without paying appropriate import duty, and attempting to clear the vehicle with forged papers.

Similarly, Melaye was also investigated over allegations that he did not graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria.