Thugs invade Edo Assembly amidst sporadic shooting

• Speaker, deputy impeached

• I remain speaker, says Edoror

Mayhem. That was the situation yesterday at the Anthony Enahoro Legislative Complex in Benin, Edo State, when armed thugs invaded the House of Assembly.

The thugs had invaded the house, following the impeachment of the Speaker, Mr. Victor Edoror and his deputy, Mr. Bright Osayande.
The removal of the two principal members of the house had caused hired thugs, suspected to be loyal to the speaker, to invade the house, shooting sporadically into the air to scare away lawmakers and other people who were at the gallery to watch the day’s proceedings. The heavy shooting by the thugs forced people and traders at the popular Oba Market and adjoining streets and roads to scamper for safety.
When the tension finally died down, the lawmakers elected the first female member, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, representing Uhunmwonde State Constituency as the new speaker and Dr. Joseph Okonoboh, representing Igueben as her deputy. Sixteen out of the 24 All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the house signed the impeachment notice that was made available to newsmen in the state.
http://newtelegraphonline.com/thugs-invade-edo-assembly-amidst-sporadic-shooting/