Edo PDP Calls for Arrest, Prosecution of APC Members Elect over coup attempt.

By Simeon OSAJIE

Edo State People's Democratic Party, (PDP), Chairman, Dr. Tony Aiziegbemin has called on the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Muhammed Abubakar Adamu to wade in and arrest those behind the purported impeachment of Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Francis Okiye saying failing to do so will spell doom for Democracy.

This call was made during press conference at the party's secretariat at First East Circular, Benin City.

While expressing the party's position on the recent happening in the state's politics, Dr. Aiziegbemin said the action of the members elect was treasonable and that they should not be spelled but be dealt with accordingly. But if the perpetrators are not dealt with, it will spell doom for democracy.

"To what happened on the 6th August at the Edo State House of Assembly: As a party, we looked at the issue and we have come to the inevitable conclusion which is, there was a coup attempt on August 6, 2020 in Edo State.

"There was an attempt by the APC to upset the democracy we are experiencing in Edo State and to that infect, we expect the law to take its course. All the agencies to look at this issue and come to the same conclusion that we have come to that there was a coup attempt and we all know what happens when a coup fails and the consequence embedded in that failure.

"For us, it is very clear. We are not saying this because we are the ruling party in the state. We are saying because that is what it's", he said.

He said those who carried out the purported impeachment are not members of the House of Assembly, but members elect because they refuse to be inaugurated as their seats have long been declared vacant by the House.

“As we speak, there are 10 members of the EDHA; 24 members were elected but only 10 got themselves inaugurated. The law says there must be a proclamation, which was done by the governor and the High Court upheld it. With that proclamation a Speaker emerged in EDHA; 10 members were inaugurated while 14 were not.”

Aziegbemi said those that were not inaugurated should not claim to be members of the house as they were absent in the House for 180 days and their seats were declared vacant and the case is still in Court.

"If you are not a member of the Assembly, how then can you be the Speaker? The attempt to truncate democracy will not stand. We will pursue this to a logical conclusion, obeying the rule of law.”

“There is a High Court judgement that says Okiye is the Speaker of EDHA. The judgment has not been vacated. You can't impeach a speaker outside the premises of the Assembly

The chairman also berated the Edo State Commissioner of Police and the leadership of Department of State Service, (DSS) for allowing the 17 lawmakers to pay them a courtesy call adding that such an has made them to have the believe that they are not neutral in the ongoing political crisis rocking the state.

"Then the most neausating of all, the most embarrassing of all, was for the Commissioner of Police to have this purported Speaker and Deputy Speaker elected in a private residence. He allowed them to come and pay him a courtesy call. The CP did that and the Director, DSS did the same thing. That is making us to imagine that these people are not playing neutrality which the constitution bestowed on them", he said.

Speaking on the invasion of the EDHA, Hon. Ezehi Igbas said the action amounts to a clear disregard to judicial process and a treasonable felony.

He called on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and the Director of DSS to check the shameful action in order to avert the looming anarchy, adding: “If this unfortunate act is left unchecked by failing to arrest the perpetrators and their sponsors, it will spell doom for democracy and the lives and property of Edo people.

"I call on the speaker of EDHA, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye and other members of the Assembly not to be intimidated or distracted as Edo people are solidly behind them.”.