Protesters Storm Plateau Assembly Complex Over Impeachment Crisis

Some of the protesters at the Plateau State House of Assembly complex in Jos.

Protesters and thugs on Monday stormed the Plateau State House of Assembly complex in what appears to be a new twist to the crisis in the Assembly.

Both groups occupied the gate of the Assembly complex in Jos, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards while 13 lawmakers led by the impeached Speaker, Ayuba Bok, were in the chambers.

While the protest was ongoing outside the complex, some thugs gained access into the complex through the back entrance, smashing the entrance door to the chambers.

On the other hand, the group outside the complex confronted the invaders to protect the members in the chambers, a situation that led to pandemonium.

It took the intervention of security operatives before normalcy was later restored at the assembly complex.

The Commissioner of Police in Plateau, Edward Egbuka, who was at the scene in the company of some police officers, also met with members of the assembly.

The crisis in the parliament deepened after eight members of the Assembly impeached Bok as the speaker on Thursday last week.

Mr Yakubu Sanda, who later emerged as the new speaker, assured his colleagues that he would work in synergy with the executive and judiciary for the peace, progress, and development of the state.

According to him, the House will use its full legislative powers to ensure that government programmes and projects impact the people at the grassroots level.

The new speaker was later received at the Government House by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Danladi Atu, on behalf of Governor Simon Lalong.

Reacting to his impeachment, Bok said he would continue to stand for truth, justice and the rights of the Plateau people.

He said he was not disturbed by the development, rather it has only given him more strength to stand for the people.

“We have been standing for the people of Plateau, we stand for truth, we stand for justice, we stand for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we stand for democracy,” the lawmaker had said.