…Reps Summon IGP
…Tambuwal Begs Mark
The President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark, has announced immediate closure of the National Assembly, even as he was assaulted by the members of the House of Representatives who chased him out of the Chambers.
Pandemonium broke out following attempt by securitymen to stop the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, from entering the Assembly.
Tambuwal who accessed the National Assembly through the main gate (federal secretariat), was prevented by policemen who locked the gate even as he came down from his convoy to address the security personnel.
Police fired teargas to push back a surging crowd as members loyal to Tambuwal forced their way through the gate to smuggle the speaker into the chamber of the House of Representatives.
Mark, who entered the Assembly through the back gate (Villa side) had demanded to know what was going on when he noticed the heavy presence of security men at the lobby of the Assembly.
No sooner the Senate he entered than he announced an immediate adjournment of the two chambers till Tuesday to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
The constitution allows the President of the Senate as Chairman of National Assembly, to shut down the National Assembly under an unusual circumstance.
Sources said, Mark was later led to the Chamber of the House of Representatives by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, apparently to consult with the speaker on the situation on the ground.
The House of Representatives was in session at the time of the announcement.
Angry members pounced on the Senate president, with some already rough-handling him before he was hurriedly rescued by some members.
Speaking with newsmen, the Minority leader in Senate, Senator Gorge Akume described the situation as unfortunate incidence adding that the actions were illegal and criminally inclined.
“How can government that find it difficult to combat insurgency now moved arms into National Assembly premises,” Akume intoned.
Meanwhile, Tambuwal who ordered that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Abba Suleiman, appeared before the House on Tuesday to answer queries over the incident, left the chamber for the Senate President’s office to apologise over the unruly behavior of the members.
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