Edo Speaker, Okiye rejects Pro-Oshiomhole 14 members-elect

…Okiye insists that the 14 elected lawmakers who were inaugurated in an undisclosed location last week have no place in the Edo State House of Assembly

The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Francis Okiye, has maintained that the 14 members-elect have seats to occupy in the assembly, as the spaces have been declared vacant.

Okiye made the declaration on Tuesday at the plenary in Benin, as he urged the public to ignore the 14 elected lawmakers whom he said were “parading themselves as members of the Edo Assembly.”

He reiterated that the affected members-elect have misplaced their status and rights, following their rejection to be inaugurated, while stressing that their purpoted inauguration in undisclosed location was unconstitutional.

He pronounced the members as Victor Edoror (Esan Central Constituency), Washington Osifo (Uhumwode), Vincent Uwadiae (Ovia North East), Kingsley Ugabi (Etsako East) and Michael Ohio-Ezomo (Owan West).

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Others were Sunday Aghedo (Ovia South West), Chris Okaeben (Oredo West), Crosby Eribo (Egor), Aliyu Oshiomhole (Etsako West 11) and Oshomah Ahmed (Etsako Central).

Also listed were Ganiyu Audu (Etsako West 1), Ugiagbe Dumez (Ovia North East 1) Uyi Ekhosuehi (Oredo East) and Eric Okaka (Owan East).

“The Governor, following the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, issued a proclamation for the first session of the assembly on June 14, 2019,” Okiye said.

“The Clerk of the House issued a notice to all members-elect to attend the first session on June 17, 2019 and the house was duly convened and inaugurated.

“But the above-mentioned members refused to present their certificates of return and also refused to present themselves at any sitting of the house to subscribe to the oath of office as members.”

The speaker added that after numerous sessions by the house since June 17, 2019, Uyi Ekhosuehi (Oredo East) and Eric Okaka (Owan East) deliberately stayed away from the sittings of the assembly.

He faulted the members-elect in their decision to file a suit at the Edo High Court challenging the induction of the house, which negated the opportunity thay should have embraced to present themselves and pledge to the oath of office.

He said, “Some members of this house approached the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to stop the unconstitutional threat of the National Assembly to take over the house.

“The court restrained the governor from issuing another proclamation and ruled that the house was constitutionally constituted to carry out its duties.

“Following the continued absence of the members-elect, their seats were declared vacant on December 4, 2019.

“The members-elect again approached the Federal High sittings in Abuja, challenging the resolution of the house declaring their seats vacant.

“It is therefore shocking to hear that they converged in a private residence and purportedly inaugurated themselves as members of the Edo House of Assembly.”