Edo APC Crisis: State Assembly Declares 14 APC Seats Vacant

Amid the crisis rocking the All Progressive Congress APC chapter of the Edo state, the state House of Assembly has declared 14 seats of lawmakers who are said to be loyalist to the National Chairman of the party vacant.

The speaker of the house Francis Okiye, made the declaration following the failure of 12 lawmakers-elect to attend the swearing in ceremony and two others who absconded after the inauguration.

Okiye disclosed this development to newsmen on Wednesday while urging INEC to conduct bye-elections for the affected constituencies within 90 days.

Those whose seats were declared vacant were Chris Okaeben (Oredo West), Crosby Eribo (Egor) Washington Osifo (Uhunmwode) Ugiagbe Dumez (Ovia North East 1) Vincent Uwadiae ( Ovia North East 11) Sunday Aghedo (Ovia South West) Victor Edoror (Esan Central) Emmanuel Agbaje (Akoko-Edo 11) Eric Okaka (Owan East) Micheal Ohio-Ezo (Owan West) Oshoma Ahmed (Estako Central) Kingsley Ugabi (Estako East) and Ehi Ekhosuehi (Oredo West).

lawmakers who absconded after inauguration and their seats were declared vacant for not meeting mandatory sitting requirement to continue as members of the House.

The affected lawmakers have however been calling for a new proclamation to reinstate them as legitimate member of the house.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Yekini Idiaye, also confirmed the development to newsmen.

He said “For others, who hadn’t been inaugurated since the proclamation of House, their constituents have been complaining and have come to us that they want their voices and concerns to be heard at the House.

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“So, people who are willing to provide quality representation have to be elected to bring the matters of the distraught constituents to the floor for debate and legislation, where necessary.”

Meanwhile, one of the victims Chris Okaeben (Oredo West), has criticized the declaration of the speaker of the house adding that, there was no House of Assembly in Edo state as stipulated by the Nigerian constitution.

He said “They want us to toe the path of violence but we have said nobody’s blood is worth a seat in the Assembly. We will pursue our case in a constitutional way. We have no problem with Governor Obaseki since he said he has issued a proclamation.

“The Clerk did not invite us to any inauguration. A proper inauguration is what we will attend. Okiye has said nothing today.”