PDP And APC Lawmakers Exchange Blows In Benue State

There was disorder at the Benue state House of Assembly on Tuesday, July 19, as the event worsened into fisticuffs between lawmakers over an alleged 750 million naira car scam.

An alleged probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the buying of cars for the lawmakers has led to argument in the Benue State House of Assembly.

PDP lawmakers in the House allege the Speaker of corruption and are demanding the resignation of the principal officers in the House. 

The Speaker accuses 13 PDP lawmakers of violating the law in the acquisition of the cars which prompted the EFCC probe.

According to Channels TV, the fracas was fueled by an alleged probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the purchase of cars for the lawmakers. The commotion apparently arose on the floor of the House in Makurdi, the Benue state capital when Honourable Kester Kyenge (PDP), raised a point of order before the deliberation of votes and proceedings of the previous sitting. The Speaker of the House, Honourable Terkimbi Ikyange, who belongs to the All Progressives Congress (APC), sensed the hazard in the motion raised and ruled Mr Kyenge out of order, causing displeasure among the PDP lawmakers. The condition led to members of the PDP calling for the elimination of all Speaker of the House.

But the APC-led legislature sturdily kicked against the demands by the opposition. The quarrel then deteriorated to the stage where lawmakers from the APC and the PDP used insulting words against each other, instigation the Speaker to postpone sitting to Thursday, July 21.

Speaking with newsmen, Kyenge in company of his PDP colleagues, expressed worry that the Benue state government had failed to pay workers six months salaries, amidst rising insecurity in the state. They also alleged the Speaker of corruption and again demanded the resignation of the principal officers in the House. However, the Speaker on his part lay off the statements of the PDP lawmakers and accused 13 of them violating the law in the acquisition of the cars which prompted the EFCC probe.