Edo voters have been urged to come out en masse on Saturday, March 18 to reject lawmakers who were voted into the Edo State House of Assembly by their constituents in 2016 but absconded and failed to be inaugurated thereby denying their constituents quality representation in the Assembly.
A pro-development group based in Benin City, the Concerned Edo Citizens, at a press conference on Monday, urged voters to elect only credible and competent representatives who will work for the betterment of the state and its people.
Speaking on behalf of the group’s conveners, Solomon Idiogbe, urged Edo people to reject the antics of those who betrayed their trust and denied them representation for four years for their selfish interests and those of their godfather.
He said, “There are mixed feelings about some House of Assembly members who were duly elected by their constituents but failed to perform their constitutional duties as expected.
“The next Edo State House of Assembly election on Saturday is an avenue to set the records straight and determine the peace and progress of Edo state. We should understand that it is beyond casting our votes or exercising our fundamental rights as citizens.”
Idiogbe charged, “It is therefore pertinent for us at this point to choose and vote for candidates who can represent our collective interest in this next Saturday’s elections.”
He further noted, “We condemn, in strong terms, those whose agenda is to pursue a personal vendetta, which can lead to crisis and the distortion of existing peace in the state. We must carefully scrutinize the candidates and vote for them based on competence, track records, and capacity to carry out their legislative duties.”
“We support the smooth transition of government which is from incumbent to an elected government in 2024 through a democratic process. We have carefully taken a look at the policies and programmes of the governor and we implore Edo people to also take a keen and sincere look at the governor’s policies and programmes and be fair in judging the governor’s performance,” the group urged.
Members of the Concerned Citizens of Edo State present at the press conference included Idris Zekeri Jnr; Marxist Kola Edokpayi; Barr. Ken Oviawe; Doris Ogbeifun, and Uyi Morgan.
It would be recalled that following the much-awaited proclamation letter from Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the new Edo State House of Assembly was inaugurated in Benin City at about 3: pm on Monday June 17, 2019.
Of the 24 elected All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the Assembly, the Speaker, Hon Frank Okiya and 9 other members were originally inaugurated, while other members-elect who were loyal to the sacked National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole absconded.
Absent from inauguration, were Vincent Uwadiae, Ovia North-East II; Ugiagbe Dumez, Ovia North-East I; Washington Osifo, Uhunmwode; Victor Edoror, Esan Central; Kingsley Ugabi, Etsako East and Michael Ohio-Ezomo, Owan West.
Others included Sunday Aghedo, Ovia South-West; Chris Okaeben, Oredo West; Crosby Eribo, Egor; Wx Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s brother, Sahed Oshiomhole, Etsako West II; Oshomah Ahmed, Etsako Central, and Ganiyu Audu, Etsako West I.
For a long time after their election, Governor Obaseki did not issue the letter of proclamation for the inauguration of the Assembly because of the infighting within the state All Progressives Congress and the battle for supremacy in the legislative House.
Multiple party and government sources said then that the Oshiomhole’s loyalists were to be positioned to be able to impeach Obaseki at will and that became a grave cause for concern for the governor.
On Monday June 24, 2019, two more members-elect of Edo State House of Assembly showed up for inauguration by the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye, further depleting the 14-man Oshiomhole camp to 12.
Presentation of themselves for the oath-taking ceremony was in apparent defiance of the then National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who government source alleged camped some members-elect of the State House of Assembly in Abuja.
The two newly sworn-in members were Hon. Sunday Ojiezele, representing Esan South East and Hon. Emmanuel Okoduwa representing Esan North East Constituency II.
They took the oath of office after completing due documentation and were formally inaugurated by Rt. Hon Okiye, Speaker Edo State House of Assembly.
Following the continued absence of the members-elect, the then Speaker declared their seats vacant after missing from the House proceedings for 181 days. The Speaker later called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct by-elections in the affected constituencies within 90 days.
However, the situation took an uglier turn on August 6, 2020, after the remaining12 members-elect and loyalists of Adams Oshiomhole submitted themselves for an ‘inauguration’ in a private residence in Benin City, with Victor Edoror as a factional speaker in what was seen in various quarters as an abortive legislative coup.
With the House of Assembly election coming up on Saturday March 18, 2023, Edo People are looking forward to electing their true representatives.
