The Plateau State Police Command has sealed off the road leading to the state House of Assembly complex in the Jos metropolis. Alabo Alfred, the spokesperson for the command, confirmed this development on Tuesday in Jos, stating that the measure was taken to forestall any potential breakdown of law and order in the state.
When asked about the reason for the road blockade and the deployment of personnel to the assembly complex, particularly regarding the ongoing dispute involving the dismissed 16 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers and the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, Alfred replied, “Just wait. I will soon release a press statement concerning what is happening.”
Outside the assembly complex, situated along John Samci Road, supporters of both the dismissed 16 PDP lawmakers and the yet-to-be-sworn-in APC lawmakers gathered. According to Mathew Danladi, one of the PDP supporters, they assembled at the complex upon hearing rumors that the yet-to-be-sworn-in APC members were attempting to impeach the Speaker.
Danladi said, “We have been here since last night till this Tuesday morning because we learnt that the APC members who were yet to be sworn in as state lawmakers following the controversial court of appeal judgment want to enter the state Assembly and impeach the Speaker.
“After that, they will go ahead to impeach the governor but we will not allow that. They want to take the law into their hands, if not why should they not wait for the final outcome of the issues because the 16 PDP lawmakers who were unjustly removed by the court of appeal are presently in court over the matter? I think the APC in Plateau State does not want peace because they are aware of the Supreme Court’s judgment over the matter.
“Instead of joining hands with the Governor Caleb Mutfwang-led administration to move the state forward, they are busy trying to cause confusion where there is none. But we will not allow them to achieve their aim.”
However, a supporter of the APC, Barnas Dalyop, insisted that the action of the Speaker not to swear in the APC members after the court of appeal declared them winners was acceptable.
Dalyop said, “The court of appeal is the highest court in election petitions involving state and national Assembly. The court has ruled in favour of the APC members as the legitimate persons to represent their various constituencies, so why is the Speaker refusing to obey the ruling of the court ?”
