We would focus on our legislative duties – New Edo Speaker

The crisis rocking the Edo state house of assembly took a new twist with the emergence of a new Speaker, Victor Edoror.

Edoror, was a former deputy speaker but was impeached in 2018. He has however being elected as speaker by 17 lawmakers loyal to Adams Oshiomhole.

It had been reported that the lawmakers made a move for the removal of Francis Okiye as speaker after a meeting at an undisclosed location in Benin, the state capital.

Among the 17 lawmakers were 12 who were not sworn in since they were elected in 2019.

Their seats had been declared vacant as a result of the crisis between the members of the house loyal to Oshiomhole and those loyal to Godwin Obaseki.

Obaseki, who amidst the crisis was disqualified from contesting under the platform of APC, however shifted his loyalty to PDP.

He is presently the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the  September 19 governorship election.

Before his movement, he had enjoyed the support of the assembly with his loyalists in charge.

He however, started losing support of some of the lawmakers, the deputy speaker, Yekini Idiaye, had recently endorsed Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s candidature in the forthcoming elections.

Although Idiaye was consequently removed as deputy speaker, that step emboldened the pro-Oshiomhole lawmakers who relaunched the move for their inauguration.

The inauguration of the new members and subsequent emergence of the new speaker is believed to be part of a grant plot to impeach the governor.

However, In his acceptance speech, Edoror promised that the house under his leadership will focus on its legislative duties and not pursue the impeachment of any member of the executive.

He was also said to have called for unity among the members.