SUSPECTED thugs stormed the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly this morning preventing lawmakers from gaining access into the assembly building.
This development is reportedly connected with a court order declaring the seat of Idongesit Ituen, a member representing Itu constituency vacant.
Ituen was recently sacked as a member of the state assembly by the federal high court in Uyo on November 14. The court judgement followed his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Luke Onofiok, the speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, had a few days ago restrained Ituen from attending plenary.
The speaker who was one of the defendants in the suit seeking a court injunction to declare Mr Ituen’s seat vacant got their request granted by the court.
The court injunction reads “An order of court restraining the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly or any other person acting on his behalf (including the staff of the House of Assembly) from further recognising Hon. Idongesit Ituen as a member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.”
The PDP alleges that the attack is masterminded by the All Progressive Congress (APC) to stall the activities of the legislators following the decision of the court.
A tweet by the official handle of the PDP reads: “The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA), premises is under heavy attack by members of @OfficialAPCNg thugs.
We therefore call on the @PoliceNG and other security agencies to move in quickly to restore peace and order in the State. We believe the Police will bring the perpetrators to book as we advise members of the public to stay away from the AKHA and its environment.#AKHAUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/ILaOPyADfj
— Official PDP Nigeria (@OfficialPDPNig) November 19, 2018
“The thugs invaded the complex, chanting the slogan “APC! Change” as they set fire and blocked the entrance to the assembly complex.”
The sacked lawmaker is currently in court seeking to appeal the judgement of the high court.
Amos Abba is a journalist with the International Center for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, who believes that courageous investigative reporting is the key to social justice and accountability in the society.