Some senators who were denied entrance into the National Assembly Tuesday morning have reacted to the development.
The main National Assembly entrance has been locked by officers of the State Security Services in an apparent move to oust the senate president, Bukola Saraki.
Rafiu Ibrahim, a senator from Kwara state, was first to arrive among the senators.
“We got here this morning to go into our office as usual; I work very early. During recess we do committee works and our own writings. I’m writing a book, so I go in there almost every day,” he said.
“We got here and DSS has taken over all the gates, all entrances to the National Assembly and they said it’s order from above. We asked them why, they said there is no reason. As it is today, it means Nigeria is under siege.”
Ben Murray-Bruce, PDP-Bayelsa, also condemned the situation.
It has come to out attention that our colleagues cannot go to work after we adjourned for recess.
“I have contacted the UK and US Embassy to revoke the visa of Senator Akpabio or anybody leading this assault on this institution. We will ask them to revoke the visas of their wives and that of their children. They will not be allowed to leave Nigeria to travel to any nation in western Europe and North America,” he said.
Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio is expected to defect from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
His move has left many surprised as it came at a time many senators were leaving the APC for the PDP.
Mr Akpabio has been mentioned amongst those interested in the position of senate president if Mr Saraki is removed.
More senators and members of the House of Representatives are arriving.