Plateau lawmakers fight over mace, impeach speaker

There was a rancorous situation on Thursday at Plateau State House Assembly as the legislators fought over the mace, the symbol of authority, leading to the impeachment of the Speaker, Abok Ayuba Nuhu.

Nuhu was promptly replaced with Sanda Yakubu, who from Pingana constituency of the Bassa Local Government Area of the state.

It was leant that as early as 5.30am on Thursday, members of the assembly had started arriving at the chamber of the house.

The rumours about the impeachment of Abok had started a week ago when press releases and write-ups went viral on social media over his clash with the state governor, Solomon Lalong.

The lawmakers almost exchanged blows when the issue of the impeachment was tabled in the house on Thursday. The Peoples Democratic Party members, who were loyal to the speaker, took the mace to prevent the impeachment.

But the All Progressives Congress members, who were in the majority insisting on the impeachment, dragged the mace and placed it in its position, and went ahead with the process.

It was learnt that before the state lawmakers converged on the house, the road leading to the assembly was blocked by security operatives.

There had been grudges between Governor Simon Lalong and the impeached speaker following the attack in Yelwan Zagam, the community of Jos North, where people were killed.

After the attack, the speaker started criticising the governor openly. He also stopped attending public functions in the state.