Edo Assembly Crisis: Court Upholds Obaseki’s Proclamation as National Assembly Suffers Defeat

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, presided over by Justice Kolawole Omotosho has declared that only the court and not the National Assembly have the power to order the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki to make fresh proclamation on the state’s House of Assembly.

The Judge also said the House of Assembly is not an appendage of the National Assembly that it can take over its functions and that the governor has fulfilled the constitutional right before making the proclamation on the House of Assembly.

The plaintiffs, Yekini Idiaye (deputy speaker) and Henry Okhuarobo, member representing Ikpoba-Okha constituency, had among other prayers, urged the court to stop NASS for taking over the legislative functions of the state House of Assembly.

“As long as it (the court) is concerned, Edo State governor has power to make the proclamation. He has made the proclamation as empowered by the constitution.

“The governor is the chief executive of the state as enshrined in the constitution and cannot be mandated by the National Assembly.

“The proclamation remains valid, and the validity remains unchallenged. This court will not allow the proclamation to be tampered with by any National Assembly process. The order by the National Assembly is frowned upon and should not be encouraged,” the judge ruled.