Heavily armed men take over Cross River Assembly after court sacks lawmakers

Heavily armed security operatives on Tuesday morning took over the Cross River State House of Assembly.

Sources said the policemen came to the positions as early as 6am.

The police units on the ground include the Anti-Kidnapping, Cultism Squad and regular policemen – all armed.

They were also seen inside the premises of the Assembly.

Some of the policemen were also seen standing close to Governor Ben Ayade’s office, which is a stone’s throw.

Opposite the route to the Assembly is the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar. Men suspected to be political party supporters, can also be seen smoking and sipping hot drinks.

Motorists and passersby are having difficulty meandering through the crowd of security men and their vans.

It was learnt that the security buildup is as a result of the judgment delivered at Abuja High Court by Justice Taiwo Taiwo which sacked 18 law makers from the state and two from the House of Representatives for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

The ruling APC has claimed to have applied to the court for stay of execution of the judgment, while the party proceeded to the Appeal Court.