14 Edo lawmakers elect write Ayu over non inauguration

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja 

The fourteen (14) Edo state lawmakers elected into the State House of Assembly, who were excluded from be inauguration, have petitioned the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, pleading with him to, kindly use his office, to bring the sensitive issue before Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy Philip Shaibu who are members of the Party to remedy the situation.

This, they argued, will help to ensure that the people’s will prevails.

In a petition dated 4th of February, 2022 and signed by Rt. Hon. Victor Sabor Edoror, on behalf of the 14 APC members, titled “Re unlawful exclusion of 14 elected APC members of Edo state house of Assembly from parliamentary duty”, they appealed to Ayu to use his good office to prevail on Godwin Obaseki, his Deputy, Hon Philip Shaibu and their agents to immediately cause the integration of all members of the Edo State House of Assembly so as to protect the Nigerian Democracy which they said they believe PDP also stands for.

The petition reads in part, “Mr Chairman sir, it will be our honour to meet with you. If you so desire, to explain our plight in better detail. While looking forward to hearing from Your Excellency, kindly accept assurances of our highest consideration. 

“Representations were severally, also, made to the National Assembly, members recommended that a proper inauguration be done, but were ignored by the Governor Obaseki. 

“Our resort to legal redress has also not yielded fruit, as Edo State High Court failed to hear the case till date for the third year running due to the influence of the Government (Governor Godwin Obaseki and Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu) through his then solicitor general now Attorney General, Mr Wole lyamu. Infact, the eighth judge is presently handling the matter without hearing yet. 

“The Attorney general of the federation and minister of justice was invited to use a legal opinion on the matter, after which he wrote to the Inspector General of Police and relevant authority of the state, interpreting provisions of the Constitution and recommending that the inauguration of elected members of the house be conducted. 

“The Edo Governor and his Deputy similarly did not comply with this advisory of the highest national legal authority, to integrate Edo House of Assembly members, as the law requires”, the petition stated.