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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, yesterday, barred newsmen from covering the plenary.
No official reason was given for the action.
Another drama played out at the Assembly on Wednesday when the speaker was alleged to have not only draft security agents inside the chamber but also barred newsmen from covering proceedings.
The development made lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who perhaps sensed something sinister to stage another walkout.
A member representing Obingwa West state constituency, Solomon Akpulonu, who spoke to newsmen outside the Assembly complex, said it was the first time the police and Department of State Services (DSS) officials will be inside the chambers during plenary.
He said when they noticed the presence of the security men and the absence of pressmen, they became apprehensive and asked Emeruwa to inform the officers to excuse them.
Akpulonu said the PDP caucus in the House staged another walkout, during plenary, to register their grievances instead of fighting, adding that they have also made efforts to advise the speaker to do the right thing, but that it appears the speaker is handicapped at the moment.
On whether Governor Alex Otti was aware of happenings at the Assembly, Akpulonu said he cannot claim to be ignorant, stressing that he had expected the governor to call them together and resolve the issues at stake as the father of the state.
The eighth Abia House of Assembly has seen the 11 PDP members in struggle with the Labour Party members over which party should produce the majority leader of the House.
