Tension In Edo State, As PDP Takes Over The House Of Assembly [Report]

Unconfirmed reports reaching us states that PDP has taken over the affairs of Edo State House of Assembly as a result of the backlash of the recent happenings in the state. The Guardian reported tension in Edo State yesterday, Monday 9^th June, That thousands of youths besieged the state House of Assembly Complex at Oba Ovonramwen Square, giving a seven-day ultimatum to four members of the Assembly, who recently announced their defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), to recant their position or risk recall from their constituents.

Meanwhile, members of the House had a meeting in the chambers where they voted for the suspension of four lawmakers. They include the Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea representing Esan South-East Constituency; Friday Ogierakhi, Orhionmwon-South Constituency; Patrick Osayimen, Oredo-East and Jude Ise-Idehen, Ikpobha Okha.

Ogierakhi told The Guardian Monday that the “alleged suspension is phantom and will not stand the test of time and law. We exercised our fundamental rights because we knew they would make this sinister move. They are acting the script of the state governor. Oshiomhole is playing double standard. A councilor defected from PDP to APC and he was received. A few months ago, a member of the House defected to the APC and he rolled out the drums, but we are not perturbed”.

The four were accused of gross misconduct and actions that contravened the House Rules of Order 38 Rule 3, which bars any member of the House from taking the Assembly to court.   The motion for their suspension was moved by Paul Ohombamu under matter of public urgent importance and was seconded by the Majority Leader, Phillip Shaibu, “to the effect that the members mentioned on the list be suspended forthwith.”  The motion was unanimously accepted by the members at the chambers.

Speaking with journalists, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Youths and Sports, Kabiru Adjoto, said “the Deputy Speaker and three others have been suspended from the Edo State House of Assembly. The Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea, has become so arrogant and dictatorial that he no longer sees the office of the Speaker as one. He has created parallel leadership and that leadership is aimed at destabilising the state Assembly by impeaching the Speaker and the comrade governor and that, to large a extent, amounts to misconduct. That is partly why we have suspended the Deputy Speaker and others.

“Secondly, the suspected members have virtually constituted themselves to what we call “marketers” that have been given target to meet. They have virtually approached every member standing here to sell their mandate to the PDP. They have mentioned heavy amount ranging from N50 million to N70 million. They have approached me that if am willing to sell my mandate to the PDP, I will be offered N70 million. They approached us dangling a poisonous, dangerous and evil carrot.

“It is part of the House Rules that no member must take the Assembly to court, but these four members have taken the House to court. It has happened before in the Fifth Assembly when Zakawanu Garuba was Speaker. A member was suspended for taking the House to court”.