The recently sworn-in governor of Edo State, Okpebholo, is scheduled to question Godwin Obaseki’s administration on Monday.
In 2019, Okpebholo declared that he would form a commission of inquiry to look into the previous administration’s denial of 14 elected State House of Assembly members.
According to reports, during Obaseki’s administration, the 14 members who were elected in the 7th Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, or APC, were not given their inauguration.
Shortly after taking the oath of office as the state’s governor on Tuesday at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Okpebholo made the announcement of the planned investigation in his inaugural speech.
“On June 17, 2019, 14 elected members of the Edo State House of Assembly were not sworn in to the 7th Assembly,” he stated. It dealt our democracy a serious harm.
“In order to prevent a recurrence of that disaster, my government is assembling a commission of inquiry to look into its remote causes.
“This is extremely important since democracy depends on the legislative branch of government to remain viable.”
For the benefit of Edo’s citizens, the incoming governor pledged to cooperate with State House of Assembly members.
He gave the assurance that his government was prepared to collaborate with state lawmakers in order to fortify governance structures and quicken growth.
The governor stated that the judicial branch of government will be reinforced to deliver justice in a fair and timely manner in accordance with the theory of separation of powers.
Additionally, he pledged to order Justice Daniel Okungbowa, the Chief Judge of the State, to investigate the cases of three judges that Obaseki, the immediate predecessor, refused to swear in.
It is unfortunate that the previous administration took so long to swear in the three justices whom the National Judicial Council had recommended.
“The Chief Judge will investigate this and take the appropriate action right away,” he said.
