House Of Reps Summon IGP Over Disruption Of G7 Governors Meeting In Abuja

There was a mild  row  in  the House of Representatives on Tuesday as a motion on the right of the seven rebel governors of the Peoples Democratic Party to hold meetings split the ranks of lawmakers.

While the PDP lawmakers in the camp of the G-7  governors  and their supporters in the All Progressives Congress of Nigeria wanted the motion to pass, those in the  mainstream  PDP  vehemently opposed it.

The motion was later passed and the lawmakers consequently decided to summon the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to ascertain the circumstances leading to the   disruption of  Sunday’s  meeting by the rebel governors  at the Kano Governor’s Lodge by policemen   from  the Asokoro  Command in Abuja.

A  member of the House   from Niger State, Mr. Idris Kutigi, who sponsored the motion, had  argued that it amounted to “impunity” for the police to “storm” the lodge and disrupt the meeting on Sunday.

He therefore  urged his colleagues to “condemn” the action of the police, stating  that the G-7 governors  and some members of the National Assembly were meeting   to find solutions to the crisis in the PDP when the policemen stormed the venue.

The lawmaker  also stated that the police interfered   with the  immunity  conferred on the governors   by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Kutigi  added, “The Police authorities have in recent times disrupted several meetings of these governors by ceiling the meeting venues.

“We are 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.

“We are alarmed at the way and manner the Nigeria Police treats elected representatives of Nigerians. This  amounts to a total disregard of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We note 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.”

But, there was protest from the main PDP lawmakers as Kutigi  ended  his argument.

They tried to throw out the motion when the presiding Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, put it to vote.

They kicked against the motion by shouting a loud “nay”.

Their opponents also shouted a louder “ayes” in support of the motion.

In the ensuing confusion, Ihedioha called the vote twice before he ruled in favour of the motion.