…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media.
The Nasarawa State Police have taken action to seal the Nasarawa House of Assembly Complex in order to prevent further escalation of conflicts that could potentially result in a breakdown of law and order.
This move comes as a response to the ongoing leadership crisis within the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, which has recently taken a new twist with the emergence of two Speakers of the House.
Emergence of Two Speakers Sparks Crisis
According to a report by Naija News, the crisis within the Nasarawa State House of Assembly reached a critical point when two Speakers were recognized.
On Tuesday, a confrontation unfolded at the Assembly complex when a majority of lawmakers-elect arrived as early as 3 am to obstruct the inauguration of the 7th Assembly in the state.
The root cause of the leadership crisis stems from allegations that the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, had orchestrated the inauguration of the 7th Assembly without the presence of 13 House members.
Two Factions, Two Speakers
As a consequence of the dispute, two factions within the House each declared their own Speaker.
Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, the former speaker, was elected during a session held at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, while Daniel Ogah Ogazi, a member representing Kokona East constituency, emerged as a speaker from the proceedings at the State Assembly complex.
Balarabe-Abdullahi garnered support from 11 loyal members, while Ogazi received backing from thirteen members-elect, including those from opposing political parties.
Closure of the Assembly Complex
In light of the situation, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Mohammed-Baba, ordered the closure of the Assembly complex.
The decision to seal off the complex was made after consultations with other security agencies in the state. DSP Ramhan Nansel, the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the directive and provided further details on the closure.
The police’s action to seal the Nasarawa House of Assembly Complex aims to prevent the escalation of the leadership crisis and maintain law and order.
With the emergence of two Speakers and factions within the House, the situation had become increasingly volatile.
By sealing off the complex, the authorities hope to mitigate the risk of further clashes and facilitate a resolution to the crisis through peaceful means.