Breaking: Reps Vote Behind Closed Door over Call for El-Zakzaky’s Release

Malik Yahya/

The House of Representatives is currently voting behind closed door over calls by two members for the government to release the detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

A lawmaker, Herman Hembe, had raised a prayer calling on the Federal Government to obey courts’ orders to release El-Zakzaky.

But another lawmaker, Linda Ikpeazu, made another prayer directing the Kaduna State Government to obey similar court orders.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, consequently put the prayer to a voice vote and the nays had it.

Supporters of the prayers however protested the verdict, forcing the Speaker to call for a division of the ‎House, which is the practice when those for and against a matter cannot be clearly determined through voice vote.

When this happens, lawmakers are asked to relocate to either sides of the isle based on their votes.

Shortly after calling for a division and the lawmakers had started taking positions in the chamber, the Speaker asked that the process be done behind closed doors, asking the sergeants-at-arms to usher non-members out of the chamber and gallery.

Details later……