Okpebholo: My administration will probe exclusion of 14 lawmakers from Edo assembly

Monday Okpebholo, newly inaugurated governor of Edo, says his administration will investigate the exclusion of 14 lawmakers from the state house of assembly. 

Okpebholo spoke after taking his oath of office on Tuesday in Benin City.

BACKGROUND

Adams Oshiomhole served as Edo governor under the All Progressives Congress (APC) from 2008-2016.

Godwin Obaseki, who succeeded Oshiomole, governed under APC from 2016 to 2020, and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from where he nicked a second term from 2020 to 2024.

In 2019, the conflict between Oshiomhole and Obaseki led to the factionalisation of the state’s legislature.

Nine lawmakers loyal to Obaseki were secretly inaugurated , leaving the pro-Oshiomhole camp stranded.

Frank Okiye, Obaseki’s preferred candidate who emerged speaker, said other elected lawmakers who were not at the “inauguration” would take their oath of office after completing the documentation processes.

Subsequently, the senate gave Obaseki an ultimatum to issue a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of the state house of assembly, but he ignored the directive.

Okiye later declared the seats of the 14 lawmakers vacant for “failing to present their certificates of return to the clerk for inauguration”.

The aggrieved lawmakers-elect filed an ex parte motion seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) from conducting a by-election, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

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 disqualified from seeking a second term on the platform of the APC.

In October 2020, Obaseki said the 14 lawmakers were not prevented from performing their duties, but they “refused to be inaugurated”.

“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 even after the court had settled the matter,” he said.

“For more than 180 days, they did not come. They refused to represent the people. Those seats became vacant; that’s what the constitution says.

“They went to court after those seats were declared vacant by the speaker. There is nothing I can do about that at this time.”

‘DEMOCRACY HAS TRIUMPHED’

In his inaugural address, Okpebholo thanked the people of the state for their support, describing his victory at the polls as a “triumph of democracy”.

He pledged to strengthen state security, connect communities through road infrastructure, and boost the economy by supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship.

Okpebholo said his administration is ready to collaborate with the Edo house of assembly for the common good.

“Recall that on the 17th of June 2019, 14 members of the Edo state house of assembly were denied inauguration into the 7th assembly. It was a big blow to our democracy,” Okpebholo said.

“My administration is setting up a panel of inquiry to investigate the remote cause of this incident.

“The legislative arm of government is an essential component of democracy.

“Under the doctrine of separation of powers, the judicial arm of government shall be strengthened to administer justice freely and promptly.

“The delay and refusal by the previous administration to swear in the three justices recommended by the national judicial council is indeed regrettable.

“The chief judge will look into this and take necessary action without delay.”

The governor said his administration will support traditional institutions and uphold the Oba of Benin as exclusive owner of returned “looted artefacts from the Benin massacre of 1897 by British colonial forces”.

He also promised to prioritise citizens’ welfare, while pledging to fix deplorable roads and insecurity.

Okpebholo added that his five-point agenda will drive economic growth and improve lives through security, infrastructure, affordable healthcare, food sufficiency, and value-driven education.