Teargas fired inside Nigeria parliament before key vote

Nigerian lawmakers had been scheduled to vote on President Goodluck Jonathan's request to extend the state of emergency in the northeast. By Jewel Samad (AFP/File)

Abuja (AFP) - Nigerian security forces fired teargas on Thursday inside the parliament complex as opposition lawmakers, including the speaker of the lower house, arrived for a key vote on emergency rule in the northeast.

The leader of the Senate, David Mark, later ordered the immediate closure of both chambers until next week over the incident.

Multiple reports, including from eye witnesses, indicated that security agents tried to block House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who defected to the opposition last month, from entering the building.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has tried to remove Tambuwal from the speaker's chair since his defection and stripped him of his security detail.

Lawmakers had been scheduled to vote Thursday on President Goodluck Jonathan's request to extend the state of emergency in the northeast region hit hardest by Boko Haram.

Members of Tambuwal's All Progressives Congress (APC) party have described the state of emergency first imposed in May last year as a failure because of escalating violence and have argued it should not be renewed.

A witness who works at parliament but requested anonymity said police first fired teargas as Tambuwal and other APC lawmakers tried to enter the gate outside the parliament buildings.

The lawmakers managed to enter the gate and headed toward the main lobby of the parliament building, he said, adding: "Police fired teargas again."

An AFP reporter said the lobby was still filled with teargas several minutes after Tambuwal's arrival.

Police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu denied that police officers were involved.

Senate president Mark said: "Because of the very unfortunate incident that has happened in the National Assembly this morning, I have decided that I will shut down the National Assembly until Tuesday next week."

Mark, who is a PDP stalwart, said there would no vote Thursday on Jonathan's request to extend emergency rule.