…lawmakers barred from accessing Govt House
Ekanem Iniko, Uyo
The standoff between Akwa Ibom State’s executive and legislative arms escalated Tuesday after security operatives barred lawmakers from their temporary chamber, forcing the State House of Assembly to order an accelerated return to its main Assembly Complex along Udo Udoma Avenue.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, has directed immediate renovation work on the chamber to ensure plenary resumes no later than Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
The directive, issued on June 2, 2026, came hours after an altercation at the Government House gate that halted legislative business for the day. According to a press release from the Office of the Speaker, the Speaker charged the Chairman of the House Committee on House Services, Hon. Lawrence Udoide, with ensuring the Assembly Chamber at the Udo Udoma Complex is “put in proper condition” for the lawmakers’ return.
The development marks a sharp turn in what observers now describe as a deepening crisis between the executive and legislature in the state.
For weeks, AKHA has been conducting plenary at a temporary venue inside the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs while renovations continued at the main complex. That arrangement collapsed Tuesday when security personnel stationed at the Government House gate denied lawmakers, including the Speaker, access to the ministry’s chamber where the day’s session was scheduled.
Addressing journalists after the incident, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Jerry Otu, said the Speaker had lost patience with the disruptions and ordered the House Services Committee to expedite all outstanding work at the Assembly Complex. He described the conduct of the security operatives as “overzealous” and said it directly interfered with the constitutional functions of the legislature.
“Hon. Otong has mandated the House Services Committee to expedite work on the Assembly Chamber to facilitate the immediate return of lawmakers to the Assembly Complex for plenary sessions,” Otu told reporters. He added that the decision to abandon the temporary venue became inevitable once members were prevented from entering for plenary.
The confrontation at the Government House gate is the latest flashpoint in a relationship that has grown increasingly strained in recent months. While the exact trigger for the security blockade remains unclear, the incident has raised fresh questions about the separation of powers and the independence of the legislature. Lawmakers have long argued that unhindered access to their chambers is a constitutional guarantee, not a privilege subject to security clearance.
The move to resume at the Udo Udoma Complex next week signals AKHA’s intent to reassert control over its calendar and venue. The Assembly Complex, which houses the main chamber and committee rooms, has been undergoing upgrades since the current session began. House Services had been working to complete final touches before lawmakers returned permanently, but the Tuesday incident appears to have accelerated the timeline.
Hon. Udoide has now been tasked with coordinating contractors, maintenance crews, and technical staff to ensure the chamber, public gallery, and supporting facilities meet session standards by June 9. That deadline gives the committee less than a week to complete work that officials had previously projected would take longer.
For constituents, the disruption means legislative activities such as bill considerations, oversight hearings, and constituency briefings were suspended Tuesday.
Political analysts in Uyo say the crisis reflects broader tensions seen in several states where executive control over state infrastructure and security agencies can complicate legislative operations. The Constitution guarantees each House of Assembly the power to regulate its own proceedings and premises, but in practice, shared facilities and security arrangements often create friction with the governor’s office.
Hon. Otu’s comments to the press suggest the legislature views Tuesday’s blockade as more than a logistics issue. By framing it as “overzealous conduct” and linking it directly to the decision to vacate the temporary chamber, AKHA is positioning the move as a defense of legislative autonomy. Whether the executive will challenge the Assembly’s unilateral return to Udo Udoma Avenue remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, staff at the Assembly Complex confirmed Tuesday afternoon that renovation crews were recalled and given new instructions to prioritize the chamber and speaker’s podium. Furniture, sound systems, and voting equipment are being tested, while cleaning and safety checks are underway throughout the building.
The Speaker’s directive also carries political weight. Rt. Hon. Otong, who has presided over AKHA since the 8th Assembly was inaugurated, has repeatedly emphasized the need for the legislature to operate without interference. Ordering an immediate resumption at the permanent site sends a clear signal that the House intends to conduct its business on its own terms, regardless of the temporary setbacks.
As of press time, the Akwa Ibom State Government had not issued an official response to the Assembly’s announcement or to allegations regarding the conduct of security personnel at the Government House gate. The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, whose chamber served as the temporary venue, also declined to comment on the access denial.
With plenary now set for June 9 at Udo Udoma Avenue, all eyes will be on whether the House Services Committee can deliver a functional chamber on schedule, and whether the executive-legislature rift widens further in the days ahead. For now, AKHA members are preparing to return to their constitutional seat of power, ending a brief but turbulent period of operating from a borrowed chamber.
