By Dayo Johnson
Akure — LEADERSHIP tussle in the Ondo state House of Assembly deepened yesterday as the State Police Command sealed the assembly complex following a rowdy  plenary session.

ONDO ASSEMBLY

As at yesterday, the embattled speaker, Jumoke Akindele had 14 members behind her while the newly elected Speaker, Coker Malachi had 12 followers.

The rowdy session saw the embattled Speaker, Akindele, manhandled by members of the other faction who insisted that she remained sacked.

Vanguard gathered that the sacked speaker  and 13 others in her faction, stormed the Assembly as early as 6.30am yesterday, for both the parliamentary and plenary sittings.

The other faction led by the newly elected speaker, Coker Malachi, reportedly got wind of the  happenings in the House and mobilized other members to invade the Assembly.

Vanguard learned that the plenary which was in session was disrupted as the other faction insisted that the sacked speaker could not preside.

Akindele was reportedly dragged  from the speaker’s seat and the session became rowdy as the members from both factions engaged themselves in a shouting match.

Both factions almost threw caution into the air by engaging in a free for all.

Some thugs were reportedly hired  by the faction that disrupted the sitting.

Timely arrival at the Assembly by the state Police commissioner, Hilda Harrison, saved the situation from degenerating into a bloody clash.

The Police Commissioner thereafter ordered the sealing of the  complex following the unruly behaviour of the lawmakers.

No fewer than 30 policemen were deployed  to the Assembly  just as an Armoured personnel Carrier, APC, was stationed at the entrance.

Workers in the Assembly were equally sent packing by the policemen who were hurriedly deployed to complex by the state Command.

Addressing newsmen, the  Chairman House Committee on Information Siji Akindiose said that a vote of confidence was yesterday passed on the embattled Speaker and the Principal officers.

Akindiose said that a machinery to resolve all outstanding issues have been put in place while the controversial N15million will be kept in coffers of the Assembly until otherwise directed.

Also at a briefing the Malachi faction insisted that the impeachment of the speaker and other principal officers for fraud subsist.

Their spokesman, Ogundeji Iroju said that the mace is in their possession  and that the other faction has no right to “Go to the hallowed chamber to conduct the business of the day.

Iroju hinted that the Inspector General of Police. IGP and the state Police Commissioner have been informed of the change in guards adding that the security personnel attached to the sacked officers be withdrawn.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the leadership of the party according to a reliable  source will be meeting with both factions with a view to resolving the impasse that had polarized the 8th Assembly.