It was a chaotic scene this morning at the National Assembly as heavily armed police and State Security Service (SSS) operatives barricaded the House of Representatives in their desperation to prevent Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Reps belonging to his new party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), from accessing the chambers for the proposed special session to discuss President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for a further three-month extension of the emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Reports from Abuja say the security operatives responded with a hail of teargas as APC lawmakers resorted to scaling the fence to enter the premises. Meanwhile, Tambuwal had parked his official vehicle in front of the gate in protest.

Tambuwal was later allowed to enter the chambers and was reported to be meeting with APC lawmakers as at the time of filing this report.

Senate President David Mark, who doubles as Chairman of the National Assembly, has ordered that the Assembly should be shut down till next week Tuesday. He gave the order after a meeting with Tambuwal and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha.

The Senate President, who also reportedly came under teargas attack as he left the meeting with Tambuwal and Ihedioha, has strongly condemned the use of teargas on lawmkakers, describing it as “barbaric.”

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is insisting that Tambuwal steps down as Speaker following his recent defection from the party. The police has since withdrawn Tambuwal’s security.

•Photo courtesy of Daily Trust online shows the official vehicle of Speaker Tambuwal parked at the entrance of the National Assembly after being blocked from accessing the complex.

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