Senate gives Gov Obaseki 7 days to inaugurate new House, or else it takes over

The Senate on Tuesday ordered Governor Godwin Obaseki it Edo State, to issue a fresh proclamation letter to reconvene the Edo House of Assembly.

It also ordered that the Clerk to inform all 24 members elected via print and electronic media of the new inauguration date, after receiving the proclamation letter from the governor.

The Senate resolved that if the proclamation is not made in one week, it will take over the functions of the House.

According to the Ahmed Lawan-led Senate, section 11 (4) of the constitution empowers it to do so.

The decision of the Red Chamber came following the report of its ad-hoc committee set up to probe the Edo House of Assembly crisis, which was chaired by Sabi Abdullahi, Deputy Senate Whip.

The House of Representatives had earlier made a similar treat and even asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to seal off the Edo Assembly over the crisis.

READ ALSO: Lagos Assembly may query Ambode over N7bn abandoned health facility

An alleged rift between All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and his successor, Obaseki had been blamed for the crisis rocking the state assembly.

Obaseki was said to have secretly inaugurated nine lawmakers loyal to him on June 17, leaving their colleagues, who are loyal to Oshiomhole out of the inauguration.

The nine members had gone ahead to elect a Speaker for the House, prompting vehement protests from their colleagues who were not involved in the process.

The Edo governor, was recently quoted daring “Abuja politicians” to come take over the state assembly if they could.

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