14 Edo Lawmakers Refused To Be Inaugurated – Obaseki

Governor Godwin Obaseki has stated that 14 Edo state House of Assembly lawmakers refused to be inaugurated.

Obaseki stated this while speaking to newsmen during a thank-you visit to the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Monday.

The Edo governor stated that the fourteen lawmakers refused to be inaugurated and after 180 days their seats became vacant.

According to him, he lacks the power to inaugurate them because he did not ‘plant people into the house of Assembly.’

Obaseki said, “They were listening to their godfather who kept hoping and promising that he would unconstitutionally get the state House of Assembly to reissue a proclamation even after the court had settled the matter.

“For more than 180 days they did not come. They refused to represent the people. Those seats became vacant; that’s what the constitution says.

“They went to court after those were declared vacant by the Speaker. There is nothing I can do to that at this time.

“I wish it did not happen but people were playing God and promising what is not constitutionally possible.

“It is not about me. I am an elected governor of Edo. I am not one that planted people into the house of Assembly.

“They, on their own, operated the rules the way it should be, the seats are now vacant.

“We should learn that democracy is underpinned by the constitution and the law.

“Even if I wanted today to bring them back, I don’t have such powers.

“I do not have anything against them because I do not have such authority to bring them back to the house.”