There was a heavy presence of security personnel at the entrance of the Ogun House of Assembly on Tuesday, as the planned inauguration of the 10th assembly was postponed.

Armed police officers and State Security Service (SSS) personnel were at the assembly entrance, screening those allowed into the assembly complex.

Speaking to journalists at the entrance of the assembly complex, a member-elect, Olalekan Adeleye (PDP- Odogbolu), expressed shock over the postponement of the inauguration.

Mr Adeleye, who described the development as “strange”, lamented that no letter was issued to members on the postponement; instead, a WhatsApp message was sent to members-elect.

“We have been in high spirits, hoping we will resume here at 9:00 a.m. for our inauguration,” said Mr Adeleye. “To our dismay, we are locked out, and when we asked questions, someone called my attention to a WhatsApp message purportedly sent by the clerk of the house that the inauguration has been postponed to June 20.”

“The notice of this inauguration was sent via a proclamation letter written by the governor that the 10th assembly would start by June 13,” he added.

The member-elect, who spoke on behalf of eight other PDP members-elect, also on ground, added that the sudden postponement was not the best way to start the present legislature.

He noted that no senior management staff of the assembly was around to talk to them about the reason for the postponement.

Reacting, the immediate past speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, urged opposition party members-elect to keep calm over the postponement of the inauguration.

Mr Oluomo, representing Ifo-I, said the news of the postponement was sent via the platform created for both the newly-elected members and the returning ones.

The former speaker urged the members-elect not to be disturbed by the postponement.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has 17 members-elect, while the PDP has nine members-elect.

(NAN)