The recently appointed governor of Edo, Okpebholo, announced Monday that his administration would look into the exclusion of 14 lawmakers from the state assembly.
Following his oath of office in Benin City on Tuesday, Okpebholo gave a speech.
From 2008 until 2016, Adams Oshiomhole led the All Progressives Congress (APC) as governor of Edo.
Oshiomole’s successor, Godwin Obaseki, served in the APC from 2016 until 2020 before defecting to the PDP, where he was elected to a second term from 2020 to 2024.
The state legislature became factionalized in 2019 as a result of the dispute between Oshiomhole and Obaseki.
The pro-Oshiomhole side was left stranded after nine members who supported Obaseki were covertly inaugurated.
Other elected MPs who were not present at the “inauguration” would take their oath of office after finishing the necessary paperwork, according to Frank Okiye, Obaseki’s favourite who was named speaker.
The senate then gave Obaseki a deadline to produce a new proclamation for the state house of assembly’s inauguration, but he disregarded the order.
The 14 legislators’ seats were later deemed vacant by Okiye because they “failed to present their certificates of return to the clerk for inauguration.”
In order to prevent the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) from holding a by-election until the motion is heard and decided, the resentful lawmakers-elect filed an ex parte motion asking for an order of interim injunction.
However, in August 2020, the crisis took another turn when 17 lawmakers loyal to Oshiomhole were inaugurated, with Victor Edoror, who was removed as deputy speaker in 2018, becoming speaker.
The lawmakers took their oath of office at a hidden location in Benin City “with the mandate to remove Obaseki”, who had defected to the PDP after he was not eligible to run for a second term on the APC platform.
Obaseki stated in October 2020 that although the 14 MPs “refused to be inaugurated,” they were not barred from carrying out their duties.
Even after the court had resolved the case, he claimed, “they were listening to their godfather who kept hoping and promising that he would unconstitutionally get the state house of assembly to reissue a proclamation.”
They didn’t arrive for over 180 days. They declined to speak for the populace. The constitution states that the seats become vacant.
After the speaker proclaimed the seats empty, they headed to court. Right now, there is nothing I can do about that.
During his inaugural speech, Okpebholo expressed gratitude to the state’s citizens for their support and called his election victory a “triumph of democracy.”
In his inaugural speech, Okpebholo expressed gratitude and promised to improve state security, build roads to connect villages, and stimulate the economy by encouraging entrepreneurship and small companies.
Thanking the people of the state for their support, Okpebholo declared his election victory a “triumph of democracy” and stated that his administration is prepared to work with the Edo house of assembly for the benefit of everybody.
Remember how 14 members of the Edo State House of Assembly were not sworn in to the 7th assembly on June 17, 2019? “Our democracy suffered a serious setback,” Okpebholo remarked.
“A commission of inquiry is being established by my government to look into the incident’s remote cause.
“A crucial element of democracy is the legislative branch of government.
The judicial branch of government will be reinforced to provide justice in a free and timely manner in accordance with the theory of separation of powers.
It is unfortunate that the previous government took so long to swear in the three judges whom the National Judicial Council had recommended.
“The chief judge will investigate this and act promptly as needed.”
According to the governor, his administration will preserve the Oba of Benin as the sole owner of “looted artefacts from the Benin massacre of 1897 by British colonial forces” and protect traditional institutions.
In addition, he pledged to address instability and poor roads while putting the wellbeing of the populace first.
According to Okpebholo, his five-point agenda—security, infrastructure, cheap healthcare, food sufficiency, and value-driven education—will boost economic growth and enhance people’s quality of life.
