The Plateau State House of Assembly complex has been sealed by the Police as the two parties laying claim to the Speaker-ship of the Legislature continue negotiations toward reaching a truce.
Security sources informed The PUNCH in Jos on Wednesday that the AIG in charge of Zone Four comprising Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa State commands, Mustapha Dandaura gave the order to seal the Assembly complex after visiting Jos to assess the situation on the ground.
A source that confirmed the development said that the decision was to prevent the crisis from degenerating into a full-blown breakdown of law and order.
When this blog visited the assembly premises as at Wednesday afternoon, stern looking security personnel were strategically positioned around the complex while as many as 17 police hilux Vans seen around the assembly complex.
Plateau Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka was redeployed on wednesday in a move that may not be unconnected with the crisis.
Speaker of the assembly, Abok Ayuba,was on Oct. 27 impeached by 8 members of the assembly and elected Yakubu Sanda as the new Speaker.
But Hon. Ayuba and some lawmakers loyal to him held a session outside the assembly complex same day during which they suspended six of the members that impeached him, and declared him(Ayuba) as the authentic speaker of the house.
However, Ayuba and the lawmakers loyal to him gained access to his office and were holding an executive session preparatory for a sitting when some youths staged a protest in front of the assembly complex in support of Ayuba.
Shortly after Ayuba with lawmakers loyal to him were escorted out of the complex by the security personnel, Sanda and those loyal to him came into the house, held brief sitting and declared himself as the authentic speaker of the assembly.
Hon. Sanda promised to continue the sitting on Tuesday but that did not happen.
When contacted,Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Gabriel Ubah,said that he did not have information about the situation at the assembly.
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