- Stay Connected
Socialize
Now Nigerian Politicians Trade Punches In Parliament
President Goodluck Jonathan has not yet said whether he will seek re-election
The lower house had just reconvened after a seven-week break – during which the new PDP faction was formed.
But a BBC reporter says MPs loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan began shouting and jeering, which upset their rivals and scuffles broke out.
The new faction does not want President Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015.
He has not yet said whether he will stand but some of his allies, including his wife, have started campaigning for him.
The BBC’s Ibrahim Isa says he saw one politician tear the shirt of another in chaotic scenes at Nigeria’s House of Representatives in the capital, Abuja.
The brawl lasted for about 10 minutes with legislators hitting each other.
TV footage reportedly shows a female legislator poking her finger in the face of a colleague.
Another politician was seen grabbing a chair in an attempt to hit a fellow lawmaker, the AFP news agency reports.
The PDP has won every national election since the end of military rule in 1999, so the party’s presidential candidate would be in a strong position to become Nigeria’s next leader.
Mr Jonathan has been president since 2010, when his predecessor died in office and he was promoted from vice-president.
He beat off a challenge to become PDP candidate in the 2011 elections, which he won despite opposition claims of rigging.
BBC
Posted by
PA FWAKA
September 18, 2013 at 2:00 pm
we need that ka punching in our Ukwa parliament
Isaac
September 18, 2013 at 2:08 pm
You lame duck. None profit contributing individual full of nothing but envy and jealousy. You belong those who are long gone!
MundiaM
September 19, 2013 at 3:05 pm
PA FWAKA, you are a disgrace to the civilised Zambia as a nation. How dare you want our parliament to degenerate into hooliganism. It will not happen and if a few misguided people followed your advise, they would live to regret.
It is embarrassing for any house of people’s representatives to behave in the manner these Nigerian representatives behaved. I watched this on BBC 05:00 hours GMT news. One gentleman could have murdered another with that chair he grabbed. Pathetic!