Danbuba
Thursday 20 November 2014
Speaker Tambuwal blocked from entering National Assembly
The spokesperson of the All Progressives
Congress, Lai Mohammed, has confirmed to
journalists at the APC secretariat in Abuja that
security operatives have prevented the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Aminu
Tambuwal, from gaining entrance into the
National Assembly Complex.
“I spoke with speaker Aminu Tambuwal five
minutes ago and he confirmed to me that he has
been locked out of the National Assembly
complex at the second gate,” Mr. Mohammed said.
The APC spokesperson also said while Mr.
Tambuwal is disallowed from entering the
complex, his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, is already
in the chamber.
”The Speaker reconvene the House at the
instance of the President who wrote a letter to
the Speaker asking for an extension of the state
of emergency in three states and now he is being
ambushed and not allowed in, it is a sad
development for our country
“There must be limit to impunity and we are
being ridiculed in the eyes of the world.”
Read our initial story on this saga below or here
Scores of State Security Service, SSS,
personnel have taken over the National
Assembly ahead of a crucial House of
Representatives sitting today, in an
enhanced security operations one official
said is aimed at denying the speaker,
Aminu Tambuwal, access to the complex.
Mr. Tambuwal’s spokesperson told PREMIUM
TIMES the move may be aimed at stopping
the speaker.
PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately
verify that claim.
Mr. Tambuwal angered the ruling
government of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, by defecting to the opposition
All Progressives Congress, APC.
The speaker adjourned the House shortly
after his defection on October 28, and
announced a resumption schedule for
December in what was believed an attempt
to frustrate any move by his former party
to unseat him.
The PDP has the majority in the House.
The House announced this week it will
reconvene Thursday to discuss President
Goodluck Jonathan’s request to extend
emergency rule in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe
States, where Boko Haram attacks have
intensified.
Thursday’s plenary would be the first since
Mr. Tambuwal’s defection.
On Tuesday, the Minority Leader, Femi
Gbajabiamila, told PREMIUM TIMES his
party, APC, expected the PDP to abide by a
court ruling which that the status quo be
maintained in the House, meaning the
speaker retains his seat.
But early Thursday, a large contingent of
SSS personnel took over the sprawling
National Assembly complex and sealed off
all entry points leaving only one open where
everyone going in is thoroughly frisked and
many, turned back.
The spokesperson for the Speaker, Imam
Imam, told PREMIUM TIMES that move is
likely aimed at stopping Mr. Tambuwal from
entering the assembly to preside as
speaker.
“All the entrances are locked and only one
gate is used and everyone is totally frisked
before being allowed in and only one person
is allowed into the Assembly from any
vehicle, others are asked to go back,” he
said.
Mr. Imam however assured that Mr.
Tambuwal will make it to the Assembly and
preside over today’s sitting.
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