The Edo State House of Assembly cancelled its first sitting of 2026 after pellets suspected to be from gunshots were found on a lawmaker’s seat and a hole was discovered in the chamber roof, prompting security investigations, Vanguard reports.
The Edo State House of Assembly is the legislative body of Edo State, responsible for passing laws and overseeing governance within the state. The 2026 legislative year was scheduled to commence with its first plenary sitting before the incident occurred.
Assembly leadership decided to suspend proceedings to allow security agencies to examine the chamber and determine the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the pellets.
Violence or security concerns within legislative complexes, including the discovery of gunshot remnants, can affect legislative operations and necessitate investigations to ensure the safety of lawmakers and staff. In this case, police and other security agencies were invited to the scene.
According to the Vanguard report, suspected gunshot pellets were found on the seat of the Majority Leader of the House, Jonathan Ibhamawu, inside the assembly chamber.
A hole was also observed in the roof of the chamber, raising concerns before the planned sitting.
Some lawmakers were already in the complex preparing for the day’s sitting when the items were discovered, prompting the leadership to invite the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, to examine the scene and initiate an investigation.
Ibhamawu addressed journalists after the discovery, stating that the incident was being investigated by security agencies, including the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services, and that lawmakers had decided to postpone sitting until the chamber was fully examined and a complete report provided.
He said, “We were ready for sitting today and our attention was called to the fact that there was an incident here, so I have to call the Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Service, DSS, and we have left everything to them to investigate and to give us a complete report as to what gave rise to what we are talking about.”
Ibhamawu added that while the assembly was calm and lawmakers were prepared to resume their routine sitting, the leadership preferred to allow security agencies to clear and secure the chamber before reconvening.
The cancellation of the sitting highlights a security concern at the assembly complex that could affect the schedule of legislative activities in Edo State.
Postponing sessions to allow security investigations is intended to safeguard lawmakers and staff and ensure that official proceedings take place in a secure environment.
Security agencies’ involvement in the investigation may provide clarity on how the pellets entered the chamber and the significance of the observed damage to the roof, which could influence future security measures at the legislative complex.
The incident may also attract public and stakeholder interest in legislative security protocols and the capacity of agencies to respond to unusual findings in official government settings.
