Drama As 9 Edo Lawmakers Backed By Gov Obaseki Elect Speaker At Night

In what can be described as a coup, nine members-elect of the Edo State House of Assembly met late Monday night and elected Frank Okiye and Yekini Idiaye as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively during the inauguration of the House presided over by the Clerk, Alhaji Audu Yahaya Omogbai.

The inauguration which was said to have taken place between 9.45pm and10.15 pm amid tight security came few hours after 19 members-elect of the Assembly protested the non-proclamation of the Assembly by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

‎It was learnt after a team of lawyers was assembled to study the implication of the planned inauguration, three lawmakers-elect from among the 19 that protested earlier in the day were invited for a meeting and in the process, their ‎phones were allegedly taken from them before they were driven to the House of Assembly and sworn in by the clerk along with six other members-elect who were already at the House of Assembly.

Soon after, the lawmakers adjourned sitting till July 17 before they were driven straight to meet the governor in his private residence.

During the inauguration, 17 police patrol vehicles were parked in front of the House of Assembly complex while additional seven were strategically stationed on adjoining roads.

No fewer than eight other security vehicles were also sighted around the residence of the governor.

The lawmakers inaugurated were Nosa Okunbor, Henry Okuarobo, Uyi Ekhosuehi, Marcus Onobun and Ephraim Anehbosele.