How police barred Benue lawmakers from assembly

Policemen prevented members of the Benue state house of assembly from gaining access to the legislative chamber on Friday.

This happened after 22 lawmakers removed Terkimbi Ikyange as speaker of the assembly.

Tajudeen Bakare, a deputy commissioner of police, who led the operation, told the lawmakers that the information available to him indicated that there would be a breakdown of law and order.

When the lawmakers realised that the main entrance of the assembly had been blocked, they attempted to enter the chamber through a gate behind but they met another police blockade there.

However, the assembly members forced their way in through the wall but met the entrance to the legislative chamber locked.

Terkimbi Ikyange, impeached speaker of the house, and Titus Ubah, his successor, were at the premises, both laying claim to the post of speaker.

Declaring his impeachment illegal, Ikyange accused his colleagues of being bent on destroying the legislature.

The anti-Ikyange legislators moved to the government house banquet hall for plenary. They suspended the impeached speaker for six months.

Ikayange, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), started losing the support of his colleagues ahead of the defection of Samuel Ortom, governor of the state, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Currently, the PDP is in control of the state assembly.