Kelvin Bowoto
The Plateau State Government expressed concern on Tuesday about an alleged plan by some individuals to force their way into the State House of Assembly chamber to swear in 16 All Progressives Congress (APC) nominees as MPs in the 2023 elections.
Following a Court of Appeal decision in favor of the APC candidates, the state government promised to follow due process in resolving the impasse.
In the early hours of Tuesday, Plateau State Police Command agents prevented a conflict between supporters of APC candidates seeking access into the Assembly Complex and supporters of the evicted Peoples Democratic Party, or PDP, lawmakers.
The police later dispersed the APC supporters, who were then allowed to leave the meeting to prevent both parties from entering.
In response to the occurrence, Timothy Golu, Special Adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Strategic Communication, termed the proposal an unfortunate episode and a shock to the government.
Golu stated that the government was surprised given that House sittings had been moved to the Old Government House due to ongoing renovations.
He claimed that the Speaker of the House, Hon. Gabriel Dewan, was prevented from swearing in the APC candidates due to two court injunctions.
He went on to say that, as a law-abiding person, the speaker is obligated to restrain himself until the suit is resolved.
“We awoke this morning to the presence of security personnel near the State House of Assembly. You are aware that the House of Assembly is not sitting in its original location.
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“It was moved by resolution to the Government House since it was being renovated. The official dealings of the House take place in the Government House.
“But everybody is aware that there has been a problem in the House of Assembly. The Speaker would have reconvened the House, but he was hampered by two injunctions prohibiting him from swearing in the 16 members who were granted judgment by the Court of Appeal. As a law-abiding government, we will not play with that until the injunction is lifted.
“So, to see security men there without the consent of the Chief Security Officer of the State and the Speaker, it is threatening because the House with eight members has nothing to do with the traditional vicinity of the House because they are no longer sitting there,” he went on to say.
He did, however, say that some people planned to illegally enter the House and swear in the 16 APC candidates.
The governor’s adviser praised the police for their reluctance to compromise while protecting them and preventing anyone from entering the grounds to cause disruption.
The former member of the House of Representatives went on to say that the Mutfwang administration will not tolerate lawlessness and that the government believes in the rule of law and will never employ illegal tactics or circumvent legal processes.
“This government will not tolerate lawlessness; everything that needs to be done must go through due process, and no matter what the outcome, everyone must accept it.
“Nobody should be distracted by what is going on; everything is in control. So we’re waiting; whatever the court says, whatever the outcome, we’ll go from there,” Golu said.
Techrectory with Agency Report.
