JUST IN: Senate orders police to vacate Akwa Ibom Assembly

The Senate on Thursday directed the police to vacate the
premises of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as well as cease
denying legislators access to their chambers.

The issue of closure of the State House of Assembly came up for
discussion on the floor of the Senate again, when Senator Bassey
Akpan revealed that state lawmakers were still unable to access
their chambers.

He said, “Security agents are still there. No legislator has
been allowed in or out. We owe the people of Akwa Ibom this
responsibility. It is not right. An injury to Akwa Ibom State is an
injury to Nigeria.”

Contributing to the issue, Senator Ahmad Kaita said, “If the
police vacate the premises, the legislators will go in there with
their supporters and create fracas. The police are only there to
promote peace. Let us, as a Senate, verify the facts of this issue
before taking any action.”

At the end of the debate, which saw Senators Bukola Saraki, Ike
Ekweremadu, Bala Na’allah, Sam Anyanwu and others contributing, the
Senate resolved to “ask that the police vacate the premises and not
prevent the legislators to have access to the chambers.”

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