Edo State House of Assembly impeaches speaker, deputy

Edo State House of Assembly

Victor Edoror, speaker, Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) and his deputy, Bright Osayande, were on Tuesday impeached by 16 out of the 24 House members.

BusinessDay reports that the Elizabeth Aitivie (APC), representing Uhunmwode, and Justine Okonoboh (APC), representing Igueben, were however elected as speaker and deputy, respectively.

Six persons were however said to sustain various degree of injuries occasioned by exchange of firearms by suspected thugs that invaded the Assembly complex.

The motion for the impeachment of the speaker and his deputy was moved by Foly Ogedenge (APC), majority leader of the House representing Owan East, and seconded by Patrick Iluobe (PDP), Esan North-East 1.

In his impeachment notice, Ogedengbe accused the duo of gross financial misconduct, high-handedness, and dictatorial tendencies, among others.

Aitivie, A third time member and the only female legislator in the House, emerged the first ever female speaker from the defunct Midwest, Bendel and now Edo State.

However, the impeached speaker, Victor Edoror, described his impeachment as unconstitutional, null and void, and will not stand the test of time, noting that 11 out of the 24 members only signed the impeachment notice.

According to Ogedengbe, “we the under listed and under signed honourable members representing the various constituencies in the Edo State House of Assembly on this 3rd day of May, 2016 have resolved to impeach Mr. Speaker, Rt Hon. Victor Edoror and the deputy speaker, Rt. Hon. Bright Osayande of gross financial misconduct, high-handedness, dictatorial tendencies.”

Iluobe was later elected as speaker protempore before the nomination of Elizabeth Aitivie as the speaker and her deputy.

In her speech, the new speaker described the impeachment of the duo as beauty of democracy and freedom for members of the House, saying the leadership problems prompted the lawmakers to effect a change, which followed due process.

She also added that the former speaker and his deputy had been suspended for three months following the invasion of the House by thugs.

The new speaker also constituted a five-man ad-hoc committee chaired by Emmanuel Agbaje (APC), Akoko-Edo 11, to investigate the financial expenses of the House from June 2015 to May 2016.

She said if found wanting by the committee, the duo would be handed over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution, but if otherwise they would be pardoned.

The new House leadership however paid courtesy visit to the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole.