Plateau assembly: Commotion as 32 members lay claim to 16 vacancies

Security operatives Tuesday fired teargas canisters at the 16 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Plateau state House of Assembly sacked by the Court of Appeal.

The sacked lawmakers and their supporters, according to Blueprint findings, had arrived at the Rayfield Old Government House Jos earlier in the day to join the plenary following the House’s resumption from a two-month recess.

Prior to their arrival, the policemen as well as other security operatives, had taken over control of the premises to prevent the sacked lawmakers from joining the plenary.

But, the eight lawmakers, including the seven All Progressives Congress (APC) and the only member belonging to the Young People’s Party (YPP) whose elections were not nullified, were allowed into the legislative chambers.

Notwithstanding the scenario, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Gabriel Dewan, explained the reason he could not allow them to be part of the plenary.

Addressing journalists, Dewan said: “As you will recall, on November 22, 2023, the Plateau State House of Assembly went into recess and adjourned to resume on January 23, 2024. And today as you can see, we are back to resume our legislative duties officially. I pray God almighty will take control within the New Year and we are ready to give the government of President Bola Tinubu and the Executive Governor of Plateau state all the needed legislative support.”

On whether the House would allow the sacked lawmakers resume their duties or swear in those declared winners by the Court of Appeal, he said: “I’m not a law interpreter. For now, we are lawmakers but I’m in receipt of a court process that regards the issue. At the moment, we have 16 vacancies at the state House of Assembly and there are court processes over this. As I’m talking to you, we have 32 members claiming the 16 vacancies in the Assembly.

“And like I said, we are lawmakers and not law interpreters. So, we allow the institution saddled with the responsibility of interpretation to interpret the law. So, in due course, we will feed the public with the next line of action. But for now, we have only eight House of Assembly members until the determination of the court process.”

…We’re on same page with speaker – PDP group

Speaking on behalf of the PDP group, leader of the sacked lawmakers, Hon Ishaku Maren from Bokkos Constituency, said they were satisfied with the position of the speaker.

“We agree with the position of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. We know the Plateau state House of Assembly is law-abiding and has acted in accordance to the law. And as a group, we are also law-abiding, we are calm, we are organized and we absolutely stand for our Speaker Rt. Hon Gabriel Dewan Kudangbena,” he said.

Explaining why the APC group was not at the plenary, the party’s publicity secretary in the state, Sylvanus Namang, said they stayed away to avoid possible clash.

Namang said the APC group couldn’t have shown up because that would be a violation of due legislative process.

The party’s spokesman said: “We are not under any impression that our 16 members who have their certificate of return will attend any plenary today being Tuesday. As a law-abiding party, we know that it is only the eight recognised members that were supposed to sit today. Then after that, they will admit our 16 members who have their certificate of return.

“So, all the 16 sacked PDP members invading the House today is very unnecessary and unfortunate. They are only resorting to self-help and overheating the system and this will be more injurious to the PDP government in Plateau state. I think this rascality has to stop because the desperation will not take us anywhere. We are law-abiding citizens and nobody owns the state more than any other.”

…Curfew

Meanwhile, Plateau state Governor Caleb Mutfwang has declared a 24-hour curfew in Mangu local government area of the state.

The development followed a renewed hostility in the local government area, during which lives were reported dead, several houses burnt in the early hours of Tuesday.

A statement Tuesday by the governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, said the decision followed the deteriorating security situation in the area.

“Governor Mutfwang took the decision after consultations with the relevant security agencies. He stated that only persons on essential duties are allowed to move within the local government area until further notice.

“He urged all citizens, especially residents of Mangu Local Government Area, to comply with the directive and assist the security personnel by providing reliable information to restore peace and order in the area.

“He lamented that some people are still determined to create an atmosphere of insecurity in the state, despite the government’s efforts to end the activities of terrorist elements.

“He expressed his sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured and assured them that the government will not relent in ensuring lasting peace in the state.

“He promised that the curfew will be reviewed as soon as the security situation improves,” the statement said.

Plateau state had been in the throes of violence in recent time, with the latest been the killing on the Christmas eve during which lives were lost and properties destroyed.

…GAFDAN on reason for violence

Speaking on the fresh violence, the state Chairman of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), Garba Abdullahi, said the upheaval was a fallout of a failed attempt at cattle rustling.

“Some people in Shimlang village wanted to rustle the cattle of Muhammad Musa, while grazing at about 5:00pm, on Monday, while the cattle were taken water after grazing at the river side, they were ambushed, but the owner resisted, the rustlers fired gunshots and the cattle scattered away. As the cattle scattered, some of them went to the road side and caused traffic, then a motorcycle rider came by complaining.

“The herders pursued the remaining cattle, and were lucky to reclaim them and this was what triggered the situation,” he said.

A local who spoke under anonymity, said, “…nine persons were reportedly killed, houses were also burnt and other properties.”

Also, an official of the Nigeria Red Cross who spoke on condition of anonymity told Blueprint that close to one hundred houses, including mosques and churches have been burnt.

He said they were still trying to establish the number of the casualties.

Also in an eyewitness account, Imam Abdullahi Maisaje, said the Juma’a mosque where he leads prayer, was burnt down and can also confirm that five other mosques were equally burnt.

“I can confirm that four persons were killed, my elder brother was burnt inside his house, which was burnt. Many other people have been killed, but I cannot give the exact number.

“Six mosques were burnt at different locations in Mangu, many people were injured and taken to hospital,” he said.

…OPSH restores peace

Spokesman of the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Captain Oya James, confirmed the upheavals, but said troops had been deployed to calm the situation.

“Troops have been deployed, some reinforce have been made, with some scorpions and armoured tanks so that the situation can be controlled,” he said.