There was pandemonium in the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday as armed hoodlums allegedly led by suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege walked into plenary and seized the mace.
The thugs invaded the Red Chamber at about 11.15am overpowered the sergeants-at-arms before going for the mace, the symbol of authority of the chamber, while the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, was presiding at the plenary.
“This action is an act of treason, as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such.
“All security agencies must stand on the side of due process and immediately mobilize their personnel to retrieve the mace and apprehend the mastermind and the perpetrators of this act.
“This action is also an affront on the legislature, and the Leadership of the House has come to express their support against this action.
The Senate is now in an executive session,” a statement by Senate spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, said.
Activities were halted in the National Assembly as the House of Representatives discontinued with its plenary as a result of the incident.
Lawmakers and members of staff of the assembly were seen in clusters discussing the incident.
