Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Dewan has appealed to all the 32 People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC supposed members of the Plateau State House of Assembly to maintain status quo until the interpretation of the Court process.
The Speaker was speaking on Tuesday as the House reconvened after about two months recess at the old Government House Jos, the temporary sitting venue of the Assembly due to ongoing renovation at the Plateau State House of Assembly Complex.
Eight recognized members of the Plateau State House of Assembly resumed earlier, but couldn’t hold sitting before the arrival of the 16 PDP members sacked by the Appeal Court last year.
Shortly after addressing Journalists, the Speaker also addressed the 16 PDP members who were also around on the need for them to be patient and wait for the interpretation of the court process instituted.
“Honourables, I’m in receipt of the court process that restrains me from doing anything contrary to the processes that have been initiated in the court. And as you know, as Honourables, we are a body responsible for lawmaking not law interpretation.
“So for now I’m pleading that everybody should maintain status quo until the interpretation of the court process, then the next line of action would be taken, but for now I’m constrained to say anything or do anything contrary to the court process that I have been served”
Reacting to the Speaker’s appeal, spokesperson for the 16 sacked PDP members, Hon. Ishaku Maren, said they are convinced with the Speaker’s position as law abiding citizens.
“We are lawmakers, we are not supposed to be law breakers as you can see we are coordinated in our approach, so by that we agree with the position of the leadership of the House.
Recall that on Monday the 16 sacked PDP lawmakers had addressed a press conference where they declared their readiness to resume plenary on Tuesday after the recess.
Responding to the sacked PDP members press conference, spokesperson of the opposition All Progressives Congress APC in Plateau State, Mr. Sylvanus Namang described their planned resumption as an assault to democracy and contempt of court.
He added that the Appeal Court judgment which sacked the 16 PDP State House of Assembly members and all its National Assembly members has a stamp of finality which cannot be upturned by any Court in the land in line with Section 246 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Personnel of the Nigeria Police were on ground at the gate and within the old Government House premises to maintain law and order as some supporters of the 16 sacked PDP members thronged the gate in solidarity of their members.