The Plateau State Government has revealed that certain individuals intended to aggressively enter the State House of Assembly chamber to swear in the 16 All Progressive Congress (APC) lawmakers, as confirmed by the Court of Appeal.
In light of this, the state government has pledged to guarantee that thorough constitutional processes are followed to resolve the impasse.
Clusterchannel reported that in the early hours of Tuesday, men from the Plateau State Police Command prevented a conflict between supporters of the 16 APC lawmakers who tried to force their way into the Assembly building and some PDP supporters loyal to the expelled PDP members.
They were dispersed by police, who later permitted the assembly to prevent both parties from entering the premises.
Hon. Timothy Golu, special adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Strategic Communication, responded to the development by saying the unfortunate incident was a shock to the government, given that the State House of Assembly had shifted its sitting to the old government house while the premises were being renovated.
Golu stated that the speaker of the House, Hon. Gabriel Dewan, was hampered in swearing in the 16 lawmakers due to two court injunctions, and that as a law-abiding citizen, he has no alternative but to restrict himself until the suit is resolved.
“We just woke up this morning to see the presence of security men around the State House of Assembly. You know the House of Assembly is not sitting in its original location. It has been moved by resolution to the Government House because it was under renovation. The official dealings of the House are being done in the Government House.
“But everybody knows that there has been an issue in the House of Assembly. The Speaker would have reconvened the House, but he was handicapped because he was served with two injunctions restraining him from swearing in the 16 members that were given judgment by the Court of Appeal, and as a law-abiding government, we will not toy with that until that injunction is vacated.
“So to see security men there without the consent of the Chief Security Officer of the State and the Speaker, it is threatening because the House with eight members has nothing to do with the traditional vicinity of the House because they are no longer sitting there,” he said.
Golu, a former member of the House of Representatives, stated that the Muftwang administration will not tolerate lawlessness, adding that the government believes in the rule of law and will never use illegal tactics to evade the legal process.
Golu, a former member of the House of Representatives, stated that the Muftwang administration will not tolerate lawlessness, adding that the government believes in the rule of law and will never use illegal tactics to evade the legal process.
He stated, “This government will not tolerate lawlessness; everything that needs to be done will go through due process, and whatever the outcome, everyone will have to accept it.” Nobody should be distracted by what is happening; everything is under control. So we are waiting; whatever the court says, whatever the outcome, we will go from there.”
