Police take over Cross River assembly after court sacked lawmakers

Security operatives have taken over the Cross River state house of assembly.

The security operatives include officers from the anti-kidnapping squad, cultism squad, and regular policemen.

The officers were seen around the routes leading to the state house of assembly while movement into the assembly complex was restricted.

The development comes after a federal high court in Abuja sacked 20 members of the state house of assembly following their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had instituted a suit against the lawmakers over their defection to the ruling party

Delivering judgment on Monday, Taiwo Taiwo, the judge, held that the lawmakers should vacate their seats, having abandoned the political party that sponsored them to power.

But on Tuesday, the state government said it has filed an appeal against the court judgment.

Christian Ita, special adviser on media and publicity to the governor, said the judgment has been appealed and an application has been filed for a stay of execution.

He told the affected lawmakers to go about their duties “freely”.

“This is to inform APC members of the national assembly from Cross River state, members of the Cross River state house of assembly and the general public that an appeal against the judgement of the federal high court, Abuja has been filed at the court of appeal, Abuja,” he had said.

Photo: The Nation