Breaking: National Assembly leaders call off scheduled meeting

The emergency meeting of the leadership of the National Assembly scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, August 7, has been called off as a result of the security situation at the legislative building, The Punch reports.
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gathered the deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yussuff Lasun, told reporters that with the tense situation at the National Assembly, the meeting was no longer feasible. Lasun said: “A meeting cannot be held under this kind of atmosphere. It is unfortunate that this is happening; because when the parliament is under siege, democracy is under siege.” 

The deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives arrived the National Assembly a few minutes to 12pm, the time scheduled for the meeting. But, Lasun soon drove out again after meeting briefly with the senators and members keeping vigil at the lobby of the White House. He added that though his aides already informed him about the development at the complex, he still came for the meeting, immediately realised that it was no longer feasible. The deputy speaker also disclosed that he had been in touch with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; and the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara. When asked what would have been the agenda of the meeting, he replied that he didn’t know, adding that he doesn't know when the meeting would be rescheduled to hold. 

previously reported that in anticipation of a possible opening of the Senate chamber by lawmakers loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have taken over the National Assembly complex. 

Lawmakers as well as staff of the National Assembly were initially prevented from entering the premises by operatives of the DSS. Sources claimed that the senators have planned to elect the senate leader, Ahmed Lawan, as Senate President and Hope Uzodinma as his deputy.