The Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has invited one Darlington Udeh for questioning to explain why he organised thugs to disrupt the inauguration of the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum led by Samuel Mayowa Melaye after a competitive election.
Udeh is to appear before the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) National Assembly Division tomorrow (Monday) to explain why he led thugs to disrupt the inauguration of Melaye as chairman of NASSLAF.
Udeh’s group was complaining that NASSLAF’s last administration of Mahmood Muhammed, who is now a member of the House of Representatives, was from the North Central, adding that by so doing, the North Central has had its shot and cannot come again.
“The North Central cannot produce our chairman again.We have North West, North East, South South, South East and South West. All these zones are ably represented in our union. So we cannot allow a particular person or zone to shortchange us or box us into one corner”, they stated.
After the election held on Thursday, April 28, 2016, where Melaye, immediate younger brother to the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Otunba Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged victorious, Udeh was said to have, last week, invaded the venue of the inauguration with thugs.
As guests waited for the arrival of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who was scheduled to perform the inauguration, Udeh’s thugs shouted of “Ole, Ole”.
He allegedly sat on the seat meant for Saraki and declared himself chairman of NASSLAF, while his supporters pelted guests with satchels of pure water.
The invitation letter with ref. No. AR:3000/FCT/NASS/VOL.7/26, dated May 5 2016, entitled: “Investigation Activities-Re: Case of breach of peace and public disturbance”, was sent to the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Senate President, in whose office Udeh works.
The letter, obtained by National Assembly correspondents on Sunday in Abuja, was signed by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Nancy Ajaponna, a Chief Superintendent of Police .
It reads: “There is a case of breach of peace and public disturbance reported against one of the Aides, Mr. Darlington Udeh in which the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, has directed a detailed investigation of the case.
“This office is requesting Mr. Darlington Udeh to report to the Divisional Crime Officer, National Assembly Division Office on Monday (today) May 9 2016 at 10:00 hours.”
Sources said that Useh who has gone underground for fear of arrest, may be declared wanted by the police, if he does not honour the invitation.
The invitation letter was copied to the Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and Administration and the Area Commander, FCT metropolis.
NASSLAF Rejects Sam Malaye
However, aides of Senators and members of the House of Representatives, under the aegis of National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum, NASSLAF, have backed Mr. Darlington Ude over Sam Melaye, younger brother to Senator Dino Melaye, as their Chairman.
The group also vowed to resist the move by the management of the National Assembly in the National Assembly to impose Mr. Melaye on them.
Speaking through its Public Relations Officer, Yusuf Bamidele, NASSLAF, said that allowing Melaye to lead them would amount to violation of zoning arrangement as enshrined in its constitution
Excerpt from the statement read; “Our elections and leadership are driven by zonal arrangements. The last administration of Mahmood Muhammed, who is now a member of the House of Representatives, was from the North Central. By so doing, the North Central has had its shot and cannot come again. “We have North-West, North-East, South-South, South-East and South-West, so we cannot allow a particular person or zone to shortchange us.”
The group, while noting that it held its election on Thursday, April 28, where Mr. Darlington Udeh emerged victorious, wondered why a section of people in the National Assembly management was trying to impose Melaye on it.”
“We have North-West, North-East, South-South, South-East and South-West, so we cannot allow a particular person or zone to shortchange us.”
