Edo: 2 More Members Leave Oshiomhole’s Camp For Obaseki

In apparent defiance of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, two members-elect of the Edo State House of Assembly slipped from his group to pledge allegiance to the Speaker Frank Okiye leadership of the House on Monday.

The two members were inaugurated by Speaker Okiye at a session the Speaker said was called to update on developments concerning the legislative house. The inauguration of the two members brought the number of those aligned to Oshiomhole to 13 and raised the bar for those aligned to Governor Godwin Obaseki to 11.

The two newly sworn-in members are Hon. Sunday Ojiezele, representing Esan South East and Hon. Emmanuel Okoduwa representing Esan North East Constituency II.

They took the oath of office after completing due documentation and were formally inaugurated by Rt. Hon Okiye, Speaker Edo State House of Assembly.

This brings to 11 the total number of members of the Edo State Assembly, so far sworn-in, as at June 24, after the House was inaugurated on June, 17 with 9 members, to commence legislative business for the 7^th Assembly.

During the sitting, the Speaker said that the inauguration was done after the members had completed documentation and to also prove to the world that they were not shielding anyone from accessing the House.

Addressing journalists, he said, “After the inauguration of the House, the sitting was adjourned to July 17, but exigences have necessitated the recall of members from their various committee assignments, reason being that it has become very necessary to demonstrate to the world that this House is not intended to shut out anybody.

“Last Friday, the Clerk of the House brought to my knowledge that two members-elect have completed their documentation. I immediately told them to come forward for inauguration, and issued a notice of this sitting where the members were inaugurated.”

He said the move was to encourage members-elect who are foot-dragging to complete their documentation, noting, “They should know that we were serious when we told them to complete their documentation and come forward to be sworn-in. As a matter of fact, this House has a responsibility to the people. We must hit the ground running. We have constituted our Principal Officers Council so that some decisions that need to be referred to the Principal Officers can now be done and the council can take decisions.”

At the sitting, the House ratified a letter from the Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the appointment of Principal Officers.

Upon ratification, the Assembly appointed Hon. Roland Asoro representing Orhionmwon South Constituency as House leader.

The House also appointed Hon. Henry Okhuarobo representing Ikpoba-Okha Constituency as Chief Whip; Marcus Onobun representing Esan West as Deputy House Leader and Hon. Nosa Okunbor as coopted member of the Principal Officers Council.

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