Police Deny 16 PDP Lawmakers Access to Plateau Assembly

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Armed policemen, yesterday, denied the 16 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Plateau State House of Assembly, who were sacked by the Court of Appeal.

The House has been on recess since December, and sitting had been moved to the old Government House, Rayfield, because the state assembly complex was under renovation.

The lawmakers had arrived at the Rayfield Government House yesterday morning alongside their supporters preparatory to the resumption of plenary when the Police and other security agencies took over the premises insisting that the sacked lawmakers could not be allowed access into the legislative chambers.

However, the eight lawmakers (seven APC members and one YPP member) who were not affected by the Court of Appeal judgment were allowed into the chambers.

Addressing journalists after exiting the chamber, Speaker of the Assembly, Gabriel Dewan, said, “You will recall that on November 22, 2023, the Plateau State House of Assembly went into recess and adjourned to resume on January 23, 2024.

“And today as you can see, we are back to resume our legislative duties officially. I pray God almighty will take control within the new year and we are ready to give the government of President Bola Tinubu and the Executive Governor of Plateau state, Caleb Mutfwang all the needed legislative support.

“I’m not a law interpreter, we are lawmakers. I received a court process regarding the issue. I can say that at the moment, we have 16 vacancies at the state House of Assembly and there are court processes over this. As I talk to you, we have 32 members laying claim to the 16 vacancies in the Assembly.

“And like I said, we are lawmakers and not law interpreters. So, we’d allow the institution saddled with the responsibility of interpretation to interpret the law.

“So, in due course, we will feed the public with the next line of action but for now, we have only eight House of Assembly members until the determination of the court process.”