Police disrupt Rivers Assembly sitting with tear-gas

The police in Rivers State today disrupted a sitting of the Rivers State House of Assembly as they used tear-gas to disperse members of the State House of Assembly.

Following a declaration by the Federal High Court in Abuja that the take-over of its function by the National Assembly is unconstitutional, 25 out of the 26 members of the House loyal to embattled Governor Rotimi Amaechi had converged on the Assembly for the first time since July when the House was sealed.

While the lawmakers had tried to gain entry, the police quickly descended on the Assembly sealing off the complex.

However, confusion ensued when the lawmakers to hold their sitting outside the complex as the police suddenly began shooting teargas and live ammunition at the lawmakers who quickly took to their heels scampering for safety.

While it is not known yet whether anyone was injured in the incident, the deputy speaker of the Assembly, Leyii Kwanne, who presided over the sitting, said no amount of intimidation will stop their lawmakers from discharging their official duties.

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Information, Ibim Semenitari noted that “It is an indication of the impunity ravaging the country and a clear indication that the PDP under the present leadership has lost all forms of democratic conduct.

They can’t even pretend to wear a mien of civility rather they are practising jackboot governance and repression worse than we have ever seen under the military.”

Ms. Semenitari said she would issue a full statement on the incident later.

However, the state police commissioner, Joseph Mbu, could not be reached for comments at the time of filling in the report.