The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the attempt by hoodlums to disrupt the sitting of members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Monday.
The Party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Olagbondiyan, also condemned the alleged role of the police in aiding the invasion of the Assembly by the hoodlums which resulted in near breakdown of law and order in the legislature.
The armed thugs, who had accompanied a former member of the House, Idongesit Ituen, attempted to disrupt proceedings in a bid to stop the House from reading an order of a Federal High court, which last week declared his seat vacant following his decampment from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The court had also ordered the House of Assembly not to recognise Ituen as a member of the Akwa Ibom state House of Assemly.
The PDP condemned the withdrawal of the police officers attached to house members on the orders of the new Police commissioner in the state, J.B Abang, insisting that the absence of the police paved the way for the hoodlums to invade the Assembly complex.
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The statement further said: “Curiously, the hoodlums who attempted to break into the chambers had the backing of the police, while the members were unprotected, a development which pointed to high-level official conspiracy against the state legislature.
“Though the House of stood in defence of the law and declared Ituen’s seat as well as those of four others who had decamped from the PDP vacant, in line with the judgment of the court, the PDP completely condemns the action of the police in aiding invasion of a legislative house.
“While stating that our lawmakers will not be deterred by any form of intimidation and resort to violence by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the compromised security officials, particularly the police, the PDP urges Nigerians to hold the Police and the APC responsible should any harm come upon the leadership or any member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.”
