Police teargas sacked Plateau PDP lawmakers

Police officers, on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, shot tear gas at the 16 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly who were sacked by the Court of Appeal.

The lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were teargassed alongside their supporters after arriving at the Rayfield Old Government House in Jos, the Plateau State capital, to resume legislative duties.

The police officers and other security operatives took over the premises of the Government House and prevented the sacked lawmakers from going into the chambers of the House of Assembly.

The sacked PDP lawmakers, however, vowed not to vacate the premises.

They had, on Monday, vowed to resume legislative duties on Tuesday.

Speaking on behalf of the sacked lawmakers, Ishaku Maren, said while they were on recess, two judgements were delivered regarding the status of the Plateau Assembly.

Maren, who was the Majority Leader of the Assembly before the Appeal Court judgement, stated that they were a product of democracy and were validly elected by the majority of votes that were cast in their various constituencies.

He said: “It was even in the words of the Supreme Court that that Appeal Court judgement was a miscarriage of justice.

“I want to also state that even in law, it says that if there is an injury, there will certainly be a remedy.

“Our constituents are willing and ready to accompany us to the Assembly tomorrow (Tuesday) because they voted for us, and they are not ready to compromise that.”

The lawmakers were sacked by the Appeal Court over a lack of party structure in November 2023.

The Star