Edo Assembly Crisis: Why Pro-Oshiomhole Members-elect Were not Inaugurated – Clerk

The Clerk of the Edo state House of Assembly, Alhaji Audu Yahaya Omogbai has told the 13-man ad hoc Committee of the House of Representatives investigating the crisis in the Assembly that due process was observed in the inauguration of the 6th Assembly on June 17.

Omogbai who appeared before the Abdulrazak Namadas-led committee at the weekend in Benin City said he received proclamation letter from Governor Obaseki on June 14 and duly informed all the members-elect of the inauguration that was fixed for June 17.

On why members-elect loyal to the faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state led by the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole were not among those inaugurated, he said, “13 submitted documentations, while 12 have been inaugurated, but 11 have not submitted (documents) at all.

“One of those that submitted their documents is with the other 11 in Abuja. The two vital documents that need to be submitted include the certificate of return and the code of conduct and asset declaration certificates.”

On his part, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye told the Committee that only 9 members-elect attended the inauguration while the others went for a press conference. 

“This was our focus as legislators, but unknown to us, there was a gang up. On the day of the inauguration, some of us that were in the assembly made calls to other members; unknown to us that they were at a press conference.

“About nine of us on ground mounted pressure on the clerk since we formed a quorum. At about 03:30pm, the clerk commenced the inauguration of the nine members present” he said.