The
House of Representatives witnessed a rowdy session on Tuesday as a
motion on the right of the seven aggrieved governors of the Peoples
Democratic Party to hold meetings split the ranks of lawmakers.
PDP lawmakers in the camp of the G-7 governors and their supporters in the All Progressives Congress wanted the motion to pass, but those in the larger PDP camp vehemently opposed it.
In the heat of the argument, the House summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, “to ascertain the circumstances leading to the invasion of the Kano’s Governor’s Lodge by men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force under the command of a Divisional Police Officer” on Sunday.
This followed the motion sponsored by a member from Niger State, Mr. Idris Kutigi, who argued that it amounted to “impunity” for the police to “storm” the lodge and disrupt the meeting of the governors.
Kutigi, who urged his colleagues, to “condemn” the action of the police, claimed that the G-7 governors and some members of the National Assembly were meeting at the lodge to find solutions to the crisis in the PDP.
He also stated that the police interfered with the right to immunity conferred on the governors by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Kutigi spoke further, “The Police authorities have in recent times disrupted several meetings of these governors by ceiling the meeting venues.
“Concerned that a police officer of the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police boldly attempted to arrest and disrupt the meeting of the G-7 Governors in disregard to their constitutional immunity in section 308 of the 1999 constitution.
“Alarmed at the way and manner the Nigeria Police treats elected representatives of Nigerians, amounting to a total disregard to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Regrets that if the rights and privileges of these governors and members of the National Assembly can be so threatened, then an ordinary man in Nigeria has no hope and confidence in the Nigerian Police Force.”
PDP lawmakers in the camp of the G-7 governors and their supporters in the All Progressives Congress wanted the motion to pass, but those in the larger PDP camp vehemently opposed it.
In the heat of the argument, the House summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, “to ascertain the circumstances leading to the invasion of the Kano’s Governor’s Lodge by men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force under the command of a Divisional Police Officer” on Sunday.
This followed the motion sponsored by a member from Niger State, Mr. Idris Kutigi, who argued that it amounted to “impunity” for the police to “storm” the lodge and disrupt the meeting of the governors.
Kutigi, who urged his colleagues, to “condemn” the action of the police, claimed that the G-7 governors and some members of the National Assembly were meeting at the lodge to find solutions to the crisis in the PDP.
He also stated that the police interfered with the right to immunity conferred on the governors by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Kutigi spoke further, “The Police authorities have in recent times disrupted several meetings of these governors by ceiling the meeting venues.
“Concerned that a police officer of the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police boldly attempted to arrest and disrupt the meeting of the G-7 Governors in disregard to their constitutional immunity in section 308 of the 1999 constitution.
“Alarmed at the way and manner the Nigeria Police treats elected representatives of Nigerians, amounting to a total disregard to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Regrets that if the rights and privileges of these governors and members of the National Assembly can be so threatened, then an ordinary man in Nigeria has no hope and confidence in the Nigerian Police Force.”
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