POLITICS.......

Edo Assembly crisis: Lawmakers relocate to Govt House, impeach deputy speaker

The crisis at the Edo State House of As­sembly climaxed yesterday with 15 All Progressives Con­gress (APC) members in the House sitting in Edo State Government House old Exco Chamber and impeaching the suspended Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea, representing Esan South East Constituency.
The House presided over by the Speaker, Uyi Igbe, elected Victor Edoror of Esan Central Constituency as the new deputy speaker.
The impeachment of the suspended deputy speaker was sequel to a motion moved by Foly Ogedengbe, Chief Whip of the House, representing Owan East. His motion was seconded by Pat­rick Asowerien, representing Orhionmwon Constituency I.
The election of Edoror as the deputy speaker  was se­quel to a motion moved by Bamidele Oloruntoba, rep­resenting Akoko- Edo Con­stituency I and seconded by Sunday Osazemwinde, repre­senting Ovia North East Con­stituency I.
Reacting to the impeach­ment of the deputy speaker, Emma Okoduwa, the Minor­ity Leader of the House, said the action of the APC law­makers negated the constitu­tional provision on impeach­ment of a deputy speaker.
“If APC lawmakers want to have deputy speaker for the APC caucus, that is not for Edo State House of As­sembly. The deputy speaker can only be impeached by two-thirds majority of the House. The APC lawmakers are just 15 and that cannot be said to be two-thirds ma­jority in accordance with the constitutional provision,” he said.
Reacting to his impeach­ment yesterday, Ebea said Edo State Government and the APC lawmakers were thriving in illegality.
Earlier, Majority Leader of the House, Philip Shaibu, under matters of urgent pub­lic importance, had moved a motion for the lawmakers to relocate to Edo State Govern­ment House, explaining that the temporary relocation was due to ongoing renovation at the Assembly.
He said the facilities of the House were vandalised by the impeached deputy speak­er and eight other lawmakers, adding that the arrangement would enable the lawmakers carry out their constitutional responsibilities.