THE vicinity of the Edo State House of Assembly was, on Tuesday, thrown into chaos, after policemen fired teargas canisters to restore orderliness in the House, following the suspension of the speaker, majority leader and six others by a group of lawmakers who were suspended by the House on Monday.
Policemen fired teargas canisters into many directions, including the nearby Oba Market, leading to confusion, as people scampered for safety and shops hurriedly locked.
Thick smoke enveloped the busy King’s Square where the assembly is situated for many minutes, while some people at Oba Market, especially pregnant women, reportedly fainted.
The four lawmakers, who were suspended on Monday, along with the hitherto four lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Honourable Rasaq Momoh, at about 10.00 a.m., allegedly broke the door of the House chamber to hold their sitting.
A motion for the suspension of the speaker, Honourable Uyi Igbe; the majority leader, Honourable Phillip Shuaibu and six others was moved by Honourable Kingsley Ehigiamusoe and was seconded by Honourable Patrick Iluobe.
After Honourable Iluobe argued that the lawmakers had to be suspended because they ridiculed the assembly by allowing thug invasion, the lawmakers unanimously approved the suspension of the speaker and five others.
Fight broke out on the premises of the assembly as the nine lawmakers were confronted by members of the Honourable Igbe-led lawmakers who, at that time, were making their entrance into the assembly complex.
One of the lawmakers, Honourable Patrick Osayimwen, was allegedly beaten in the fisticuffs that followed.
Policemen who were drafted to the assembly complex had a field day maintaining orderliness, a factor that resulted in the use of teargas canisters.
Speaking with journalists at his office, Honourable Igbe alleged that a plan had been hatched by the leadership of the PDP in the state and the lawmakers who were suspended on Monday to assassinate him, the majority leader and two others.