Edo State house of Assembly thrown into crisis after speaker impeachement

The crisis rocking the Edo State house of Assembly continued today after the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and his deputy were allegedly impeached on Tuesday. There were heavy presence of security operatives around the complex.

The Speaker of the House, Mr Victor Edoror and the Deputy, Mr Bright Osayande, were impeached on Tuesday, with lawmakers alleging incompetence and highhandedness.


Meanwhile, the new Speaker, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, yesterday, announced the suspension of the impeached Speaker, Mr Edoror, for three months for invading the chambers with thugs. Ativie, who briefed newsmen shortly after the former speaker was impeached, said the House took the decision to impeach the speaker on grounds of high-handedness, dictatorial tendencies and financial recklessness.
“The removal of the speaker is a victory for democracy and freedom for Edo State House of Assembly; we are all witnesses to how he has brought the House to disrepute. “We have taken this decision today because he invaded the hallowed chambers with thugs. Due process was followed in the impeachment of the speaker,” Ativie said.
Meanwhile, the impeached Speaker, Edoror, has described his impeachment as a ruse, insisting that he remained speaker of the Assembly. Edoror, who spoke after a brief meeting with six other lawmakers, pointed out that 11 members cannot impeach the speaker in a 24-member assembly. He also said that the Assembly erred by convoking plenary in his absence. He said: “They have a paper duly signed by 11 members. That is not a quorum to remove a speaker. We do not want to suspend any member now. They have learnt their lessons and ran away from the chamber.
“They don’t have the requisite number. We are carrying out our jobs for the benefit of the state in support of the governor. There is no allegation of corruption against me. Those allegations are frivolous.”
Also about 12 persons have been arrested by the Police in Edo State with connection to house invasion.