By Kolawole Ojebisi
The newly inaugurated governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has said that his administration will investigate alleged exclusion of fourteen lawmakers from the state House of Assembly during the reign of his predecessor, Mr Godwin Obaseki.
Okpebholo revealed this in his inaugural address after taking his oath of office on Tuesday in Benin City.
The new governor also thanked the people of the state for their support, describing his victory at the polls as a “triumph of democracy”.
While mapping out his plans for the state, Okpebholo pledged to strengthen state security, connect communities through road infrastructure, and boost the economy by supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship.
He also declared his administration’s readiness to collaborate with the Edo house of assembly for what he called the common good.
Meanwhile, the crux of the speech which he placed emphasis on was his readiness to get to the roots of sn alleged exclusion of 14 lawmakers from tha state assembly.
Recall that Adam Oshiomhole and Obaseki used to be political allies. Adams Oshiomhole served as Edo governor under the All Progressives Congress (APC) from 2008-2016.
Oshiomhole threw his weight behind Obaseki’s governorship dream and worked for his victory at the polls. The later succeeded Oshiomhole as governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obaseki maintained intimacy with Oshiomhole until the twilight of his first tenure in 2020 when a wedge was driven into their rosy relationship by their clash of interests.
With this development, Obaseki defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from where he won a second term without the support of his erstwhile ally, Oshiomhole.
Having severed ties with Oshiomhole, the rift between both politicans deepened and this was apparent in the factionalisation of the state’s legislature.
Nine lawmakers loyal to Obaseki were 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.
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.” he added.
But speaking during his inaugural speech, Okpebholo said he would like to get down to the root of this development which he believes he deems an injustice.
He said: “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.”
