Armed policemen on Tuesday teargassed the 16 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Plateau State House of Assembly who were sacked by the Court of Appeal. This is as Governor Caleb Mutfwang declared a 24-hour curfew on the Mangu Local Government Area of the state with immediate effect.
The incident occurred when the lawmakers arrived at the Rayfield Old Government House in Jos in the morning alongside their supporters, preparatory to their resumption of plenary.
The sacked lawmakers, led by Hon. Ishaku Maren stormed, the assembly with their supporters, but the police prevented them from gaining access into the chamber.
The policemen and other security operatives took over the premises of the Government House and prevented the sacked lawmakers from going into the chambers of the House of Assembly. But the lawmakers had vowed not to vacate the premises.
In a statement Tuesday by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Gyang Bere. the governor said that the decision followed the deteriorating security situation in the area.
According to the statement, “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 Court of Appeal had sacked the lawmakers on the grounds that the PDP had no structure and could not field candidates for the 2023 elections in the state. It then declared the 16 All Progressives Congress (APC) members who came second in the elections as winners.
Although the former lawmakers kicked against the development, their protest regained momentum after the Supreme Court overruled the Appeal Court which sacked Mutfwang.
In its judgement on 12th January, the apex court held that the lower court erred in nullifying the governor’s election.
Although the lawmakers’ case constitutionally terminated at the Court of Appeal, they insisted that the Supreme Court ruling was binding on them.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Dewan had also said following the Supreme Court judgement affirming the election of Mutfwang, the State Assembly has only eight lawmakers that he recognises. He said that the judgement of the apex court had overturned the earlier position of the Appeal Court.
“As it stands now, only eight lawmakers are recognised as members of state the assembly”, he had said in Jos, the state capital.
He said 16 lawmakers the lower court affirmed would not be recognised until the interpretation of the Supreme Court judgement, which ruled that the actions and judgement of the Appeal Court were faulty and an abuse of court processes.
On Monday, Maren, who was the majority leader of the assembly before the Appeal Court judgement, had said the ruling, which validated Mutfwang’s election, was an indication that they were still the authentic members of the house, adding that they were only on recess.
He said: “It was even in the words of the Supreme Court that the Appeal Court judgement was a miscarriage of justice. I want to also state that even in law, it says that if there is an injury, there will certainly be a remedy.
“Our constituents are willing and ready to accompany us to the assembly tomorrow because they voted for us, and they are not ready to compromise that”.
