Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, has accused the formerly ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of using the State Security Service (SSS) – also known as Department of State Service – as “mercenaries” during the 2015 election.

Na’Allah made the assertion on the floor of the Senate during Wednesday’s debate on the alleged invasion of Ekiti State House of Assembly by armed SSS operatives.

“If you dodge away from your responsibilities, the consequences will haunt you. SSS officials were used mercenaries in the 2015 election by the previous PDP-controlled Federal Government,” he said.

In his remarks, Senate President Bukola Saraki, said he would not believe the invasion of Ekiti House of Assembly was possible in a democracy.

The Senate had referred the matter to its Committee on National Security for investigation. The committee has two weeks to report its findings.

“This matter is a very serious matter. Before the Senate jumps into conclusion, an investigation should be carried out,” Saraki, said.

The resolution to investigate the matter followed a motion by Biodun Olujimi (PDP-Ekiti State) who expressed fear that “Nigeria is degenerating to a Gestapo era.”

Olujimi lamented that “on Friday 4, 2016, the hallowed Chambers of the Ekiti State House of Assembly was invaded by armed men of the DSS.”

She said the whereabouts of the three lawmakers “abducted” by SSS operatives were still unknown.

“This action is not only unconstitutional, illegal, and unlawful but also a plot to harass the people and government of Ekiti,” she said. “Embarking on political vendetta and muzzling of opposition is dangerous to the survival of democracy in the country.”

The lawmaker said the Senate should prevent a situation that would warrant “invoking that extreme clause to declare of state of emergency in Ekiti State.”

The Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, condemned the development in Ekiti.

“This Motion is coming at a time when we should clearly stand by the truth,” Mr. Ndume said.

He said there are there arms of government in democracy with their rights and privileges clearly defined in the Nigerian Constitution.

He, however, said that “what goes around comes around,” suggesting that it was payback time for the opposition PDP, accused of similar acts of impunity in the past.

According to Ndume, what happened in Ekiti was not right but “happened to the right people.”

•Photo shows Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah.