PDP condemns invasion of Akwa-Ibom House of Assembly
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday condemned the attempt by hoodlums to disrupt the sitting of the Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly.
The party also condemned the role allegedly played by the police who reportedly aided the invasion of the House of Assembly complex.
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly was on Monday invaded by thugs who prevented the lawmakers from gaining access into the assembly premises.
The development is said to be connected with a court order declaring vacant the seat of Idongesit Ituen, member representing Itu constituency.
Ituen was recently sacked as a member of the state assembly by the federal high court following his defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Luke Onofiok, Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, had a few days ago barred Ituen from attending plenary.
A statement by the PDP national publicity secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, on Monday read: “The armed thugs, who accompanied a former member of the House of Assembly, Idongesit Ituen, attempted to disrupt proceedings in a bid to stop the House from reading an order of a Federal High Court, which had last week declared his seat vacant following his decampment from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The court had in a declarative judgment ordered the House of Assembly not to recognize Hon Ituen as a member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
“Strangely, last week, the new police commissioner posted to the state, Mr. J.B Abang, without any reasons, reportedly ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to house members, an action, which paved the way for the hoodlums to invade the complex and attempted to disrupt proceedings.
“Curiously, the hoodlums who attempted to break into the chambers had the backing of policemen, while the members were unprotected, a development which pointed to high-level official conspiracy against the state legislature.
“Though the House of Assembly stood in defence of the law and declared Ituen’s seat as well as those of four others who had decamped from the PDP vacant, in line with the judgment of the court, the PDP completely condemns the action of the police in aiding an invasion of a legislative house.”
While stating that their lawmakers will not be deterred by any form of intimidation and resort to violence by the All APC and compromised security officials, particularly the police, the PDP urged Nigerians to hold the Police and the APC responsible should any harm come upon the leadership or any member of the Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly.