Tensions flared at the Plateau State House of Assembly following its resumption after the Christmas and New Year break, as Speaker Rt. Hon. Gabriel Dewan Kudangbena controversially denied access to 16 members during the plenary session.
While Addressing reporters after a brief sitting, Speaker Kudangbena declared that the 16 lawmakers would remain barred from resuming their duties until a comprehensive interpretation of recent court judgments is presented before the House of Assembly.
“The house is in receipt of judgments from two courts, one from a court of appeal and another one from the supreme court. And you know I am a lawmaker; I can’t interpret the law. Therefore, I have to see full interpretations of these judgments before I know what to do,” clarified the Speaker.
He added, “The only thing I know now is that there are 32 members of the House of Assembly claiming 16 constituency seats right now, that is the reason I seek the interpretations. So, for now, the Plateau State House of Assembly has only 8 members whose seats are not in contest, and only 8 members are recognized by my leadership. The other 16 members will join us when the law is made clear.”
In response to the Speaker’s decision, the leader of the 16 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers, Hon Ishaku Maren from Bokkos Constituency, who attempted to resume plenary but was denied entry, expressed agreement with the Speaker’s position. Maren stated, “We agree with the position of the Speaker of the state house of assembly, we know the Plateau State House of Assembly is law-abiding and has acted in accordance with the law. And as a group, we are also law-abiding, calm, organized, and we absolutely stand for our Speaker Rt. Hon Gabriel Dewan Kudangbena.”
Dewan added, “We are ready to wait until the judgments are interpreted to give legitimacy to the House of Assembly.”
Meanwhile, the 16 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers were conspicuously absent from the plenary. Sylvanus Namang, the state publicity secretary of APC, revealed that the APC lawmakers were advised to stay away from the sitting to prevent a potential clash.
As of the latest update, calm has been restored at the old Government House, and workers have fully resumed their duties. The Plateau State House of Assembly continues to capture public attention as legal and political developments unfold.