The factional PDP lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly gained entrance into the Anthony Enahoro Assembly Complex Monday morning after they broke the locks of the door, under the watchful eyes of more than 100 fully armed policemen at the gate.
The lawmakers, who allegedly arrived at the assembly as early as 6:30 a.m., defied the early morning shower and held plenary, with the suspended deputy speaker, Festus Ebea, presiding as speaker.
Addressing journalists after the brief ‘plenary’, the Sergeant At Arms, said the lawmakers had resolved that the renovation in the Assembly Complex was illegal, adding “it did not go through due process. It did not pass through my table, as the Chairman of the Committee on Tenders Board.”
He also stated 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.
Among other things, the factional legislators resolved that Governor Adams Oshiomhole should immediately pay the outstanding entitlements of the recalled teachers, just as they instructed the 24 local government council chairmen to forward their receipts of cash disbursements to the House.
They lawmakers who sat for about 30 minutes after praying, said the “second sitting was to ratify all resolutions earlier made outside.”
They also resolved that all accounts of the Assembly be frozen. To that end, they resolved that letters to that effect be made to the state governor and the CBN. The lawmakers after adjourning plenary till tomorrow, moved to their individual offices where they addressed selected journalists.
•Excerpted from a PM NEWS report. Photo shows the Edo House of Assembly Complex.
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