8 Lawmakers Attempt To Take Over Edo Assembly

Proceedings at the Edo State House of Assembly took an ugly turn as 8 members made an early appearance at the House in an attempt to suspend the substantive speaker of the House and 15 others.

The members were retaliating the suspension of 4 of them by the larger House. They were then joined by 4 other PDP lawmakers who merged and declared the majority suspended.

But there was more trouble when the majority forced their way back into the House and drove them away, leaving pandemonium in their path.

Their action flared tempers as riot policemen were deployed to control the violence which broke out.

The two groups later briefed the press with each staking a claim to the leadership of the House.

The Edo State House of Assembly has been enmeshed in serious political crisis which saw members defecting to other political parties.

A member of the House, Mr Festus Ebea said “as from today, I want you to know that the House under my leadership has decided to play the role, 100 per cent, which is expected of us by Edo people.” He added, “I want to use this opportunity to call on the comrade governor to stop his divisive tendencies and make sure that Edo State is made for all to co-habit.

“He is the governor of the entire state, not the governor of one party” he said.

In a swift reaction, the Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Uyi Igbe, said, “we understand that the suspended members and some PDP members came to the hallowed chambers before we got here and attempted to sit without a mace ; this is not acceptable.

“Let me say very clearly that the minority can never over run the majority in Edo State” insisting that “if they are thinking that what happened in Rivers State can happen in Edo, it is not happening. The majority remain the majority in the Edo State House of Assembly and the minority will not and cannot over run it” he said.

Youth supporters of the APC and those of the PDP staged a rally to show solidarity but they were dispersed by the police before the protest.