...Calls for Immediate Reinstatement Of Dismissed Lawmakers
...Warns Youths, Women Against Protests With Political Undertones
By Michael Ufot
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Akwa Ibom State has expressed disappointment over the recent fracas in the State Legislative Arm, saying that the House of Assembly is not a property of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but belongs to every constitutionally elected legislators irrespective of party affiliation.
This was contained in a press release signed by the State Publicity Secretary of APGA, Comrade Mfon Udoh, and made available to our news room yesterday.
According to the release, the 5 lawmakers whose seats were allegedly declared vacant by the speaker, Mr Onofiok Luke, should be immediately reinstated, as court only gave order to declare the seat of the Member representing Itu State constituency vacant.
The release recalled in clear terms the defection of the only APC lawmaker representing Uruefong/Oroko state constituency to PDP in the same 6th Assembly without any sanction, and wondered why such privilege should not be given to all.
"We are aware that there was a judgment of the High Court concerning the law maker Hon. Idongesit Ituen of Itu State Constituency and at the plenary session of the House last Monday 19th November, 2018, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke should have acted on that judgment and declare only the seat of Mr Idongesit Ituen vacant, and not the other four law makers who defected from the PDP to the APC, since they did not take any lawsuit against the House of Assembly. We stand on the ground that, the law maker representing Urueffong/ Uroko State Constituency who defected from the APC to the PDP in this 6th Assembly that there was no crisis."
"Let the other four lawmakers be called back to their seat, while we await the judgment of the Appeal Court. This we believe will bring peace and justice to all deserving of it in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly."
The release urges PDP and APC in the state not to whip the ethnic card or reduce politics in the State to one of political thuggery as this may amount to invitation of unprecedented crises, which will hunt and hurt the peace of the State.
It however called on the Police Force and its hierarchy in the State to be neutral and seen to be completely apolitical in the happenings in the House of Assembly, and more importantly in the 2019 General Election.
While calling on the PDP and APC in the State to manage their political interest and check their excesses as there are other political parties in the ballot for the forthcoming 2019 General Elections in Akwa Ibom State, it charged the youth and women of Akwa Ibom State to steer clear from politically incited protest and avoid being used to cause ethnic tension to avoid casualty and untimely deaths.
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