Nigerian security forces fired teargas on Thursday inside the parliament complex as opposition lawmakers, including the speaker of the lower house, arrived for a key vote on emergency rule in the northeast.
The leader of the Senate, David Mark, later ordered the immediate closure of both chambers until next week over the incident. This was as a result of the confusion that engulfed the complex earlier today.
Multiple reports, including from eye witnesses, indicated that security agents tried to block House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who defected to the opposition last month, from entering the building.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has tried to remove Tambuwal from the speaker’s chair since his defection and stripped him of his security detail.
Lawmakers had been scheduled to vote Thursday on President Goodluck Jonathan’s request to extend the state of emergency in the northeast region hit hardest by Boko Haram.
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