From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

There was an attempt by thugs on Thursday to force the Speaker of the Oredo local government council in Edo state, Monday Oboigba, to vacate his seat.

The hoodlums in their numbers invaded the legislative chamber just after a motion of impeachment was moved against the Speaker by four of the 12 councilors.

It was gathered that the council chairman, Osaro Obaze, fled the secretariat for fear of being attacked, as he was said to be the prime target of the hoodlums.

Following the invasion, the councilors fled in different directions and in the process the mace was carried away.

“The plan is that if they remove the Speaker, they will‎ commence impeachment proceedings against him. All this crisis still boils down to the recent defection of some APC (All Progressives Congress) chieftains to the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party,” a staff of the council secretariat said.