Breaking: Factional Edo Speaker, Festus Ebea, 3 Members Hold Parallel Plenary

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News From The State Monday, July 7th, 2014

It seems there is no end to the Edo State House of Assembly power tussle among the gladiators as the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers Monday entered the Anthony Enahoro Assembly Complex and held a separate plenary session.

Factional Edo Speaker, Festus Ebea

The legislators, which included the impeached (last week) Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea, presided the parallel session – acted as Speaker while three other suspended members, sat in front of the entrance to the chamber.

Reports say the lawmakers had met at the assembly complex as early as 7am, with a separate mace and a Sergeant at Arms, overheard acclaiming, “Mr. Speaker” repeatedly as the “House” rose.

Ebea, while briefing newsmen after the sitting, said the lawmakers had resolved that the renovation in the Assembly Complex was illegal, contending it did not go through due process.

“It did not pass through my table, as the Chairman of the Committee on Tenders Board”, argued Ebea.

The factional speaker directed that the Speaker, Uyi Igbe and other principal officers of the House, whom they had suspended, should be prevented from making withdrawals from the Assembly’s account.

He accused the House had further asked Governor Adams Oshiomhole, to pay the outstanding entitlements of the recalled teachers and instructed the 24 state local government Chairmen to forward their receipts of cash disbursements to the House.

There was heavy presence of security operatives around the Assembly complex resulting to traffic on major roads in and around the legislative building.