JUST IN: Tension In Benin As Edo Lawmakers Resume Hostilities

Information coming out from the Edo State House of Assembly in Benin indicate that there was a lot of tension early this morning as warring lawmakers resumed for plenary.

PMNEWS reports that hundreds of armed policemen, led by a Deputy Commissioner, took over the Anthony Enahoro Assembly Complex allegedlyĀ to forestall breakdown of law and order.

It was gathered that the situation caused unprecedented traffic gridlock at the ever busy Kingā€™s Square and caused commuters to spend close to an hour to get past the area.

Also, it was reported that some of the adjoining roads into the Kingā€™s Square, like Sapele and part of the Airport roads were cordoned off by the police.

It could be recalled that APC lawmakers have in the past two weeks been clashing with the eight opposition PDP lawmakers, following the suspension of the PDP lawmakers, deputy speaker, Festus Ebea and four others, over alleged attempt to induce some of the APC lawmakers with money to decamp to PDP.

Speaker of the house, Hon. Uyi Igbe and other APC members had approached obtained an injunction from the Benin High Court restraining the suspended lawmakers from coming into the assembly complex.

* A file picture of Edo State House of Assembly

* A file picture of Edo State House of Assembly

But the suspended lawmakers allegedly threatened that they will resume sitting with other lawmakers today in spite of the court injunction.

PMNEWS reports that the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other members of the House, including the only female member, Elizabeth Ativie were prevented from going into the Assembly complex by mobile policemen when they arrived the assembly as early as 4am this morning.

The lawmakers were later allowed to go in after thorough screening by security operatives at about 7:30 am.

After a lot of argument among the lawmakers on who should be allowed to enter the assembly complex, truce was finally struck and most of the 24 lawmakers were allowed to go in.

It took the intervention of the state Police Commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo, before journalists were allowed to go into the complex.

As at the time of filling this report, normal plenary proceeding was yet to begin as the lawmakers were sitting in a disorderly manner in the chamber, discussing in groups.

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