Reps extend ultimatum to Obaseki over Edo Assembly crisis

The House of Representatives has extended, by one month, the ultimatum given to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to re-issue proclamation for the inauguration of the state’s House of Assembly.

This was revealed by Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, a member of the ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity of the House, during a news briefing on Friday in Abuja.

Recall that the lower legislative chamber had, on July 17, given Obaseki one week to issue a fresh proclamation in line with Section 105(3) of the Constitution.

The lawmakers also directed the governor to publish the date, time and venue of the inauguration in any national newspaper and television station.

This was part of the report of the committee on the “Need for Intervention in Edo House of Assembly Crisis’’ presented at plenary.

However, Gagdi on Friday explained that the extension was to allow the house to merge the committee’s report with that of its counterpart that investigated the Bauchi State House of Assembly crisis, to get Senate’s concurrence.

READ ALSO: NASS compounded Edo Assembly crisis – APC Chairman

“If you look at the report of the Bauchi case, there is an item that states that the house transmits its recommendations to the Senate,” he said.

“In a situation where there are two committees put in place by the house and the senate, position of both chambers have to be put together.

“That is why the committee investigating the Bauchi crisis was given one month and the Speaker considered that the Edo report should be treated the same way.

“Also, that report for Edo should be harmonised with that of the Senate after which we will wait and see if the position of the senate concurs with that of the house.

“From the day the senate takes position on these two states and the governors refuse to act accordingly, definitely we are going to invoke the provision of Section 11(4) of the Constitution.”

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