Vacate Akwa Ibom Assembly complex, Senate orders police

Following the lingering crisis in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the Senate yesterday described as undemocratic the continuous occupation of the Assembly complex by policemen and ordered an immediate vacation of the legislative house by the police.

The lawmakers decried the ignoble role of the police in the inter-party crisis, stressing that whatever the level of the crisis, parliamentarians in the state must have access to the legislative chamber.

The Senate resolution was reached after extensive deliberation on a motion at plenary by Senator Bassey Akpan (PDP Akwa Ibom) who rested on Order 42 of the Senate Rules to ask the chamber to impress it upon the police to vacate the complex, saying it is constitutionally wrong

Akpan said the intention of the invasion of the Assembly complex was to pave way for the impeachment of the State governor, Emmanuel Udom in a manner replica of the kangaroo impeachment of just five out of the 31 members of the legislature.

He said “as am speaking to this distinguished Senate, policemen are still all over the State Assembly complex, they are preventing our members from entering the complex but are ready to provide security cover for the minority five members to proceed on illegal impeachment of the state governor”.

Justifying the presence of the police at the Assembly complex, Senator Babba Kaita (APC Katsina North) said the police are stationed there to ensure peace and to secure the complex from vandalisation by political thugs.

Senators Emmanuel Paulker (PDP Bayelsa) and Sam Anyanwu (PDP Imo) condemned the action of police. Paulker said it was sordid seen a state Police Commissioner leading five members of the Assembly to impeach the Speaker.

He pleaded that the Senate should call the police to vacate the Assembly to allow legislators perform their parliamentary duties. He said “the police are biting more than they can chew. There are sufficient issues for the police to solve than to meddle in politics and seal the state Assembly.

“Fighting of members within the chambers should be settled by members not the police to come in and disrupt sitting. The siege on Akwa Ibom House of Assembly is condemnable”.

Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah asked the Senate to tread with caution because legislators cannot act on speculations since the Police Committee mandated by the Senate has not submitted its report.

But Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said constitutionally, the sanctity of the parliament need to be protected and respected.

He went on to say that if found culpable, policemen involved in the illegal occupation of the state Assembly risk a minimum of six months jail or a fine of N100,000.

Before ruling on the prayer, Senate President Bukola Saraki said the issue at hand was a serious one that should not be trivialised politically. He said parliamentarians must have access to the chamber at all times.