Obaseki to House of Reps: You sincerely lack powers to shut Edo Assembly

by Eromosele Ebhomele - A day after an order to shut down the Edo state Assembly, Governor Godwin Obaseki has replied the House of Representatives saying it lacks such powers

- The government said the constitution did not grant supervisory powers to the House of Representatives but to the National Assembly - Osarodion Ogie Esq, Secretary to State Government (SSG), further noted that the issue is currently pending in two courts


The government of Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday, July 18, said the House of Representatives erred in its decision to call on security agencies to shut down the Edo state House of Assembly. The government also reminded the House of Representatives that the constitution has not given it the powers to shut down any state legislature.


a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Vanguard reports that in a statement issued in Benin City, the capital of Edo, the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq, carpeted the federal legislature saying the latter was going against the laws.


“There is nowhere in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where the House of Representatives or even the National Assembly for that matter, is granted the right or power to shut down a state House of Assembly,” the statement said.


The government said it was appalled and disappointed at the ‘gross illegality and abuse of process by the House of Representatives’. Do you have news to share? Just contact Legit.ng The statement argued that the emergency supervisory powers granted by the constitution over a state legislature is handed over to the National Assembly and not just an arm.


“These powers certainly do not extend to issuing directives to a duly elected state governor to unlawfully repeat an act which has already been fully carried out in line with the constitution.

“It has further not been alleged or concluded by anyone that the Edo state House of Assembly is unable to sit. In fact, whenever the ‘self-exiled’ members-elect so choose, they can join their colleagues in plenary in Benin City,” the statement said.


The administration noted that since the situation in the Edo House of Assembly is a matter currently pending before two courts of competent jurisdiction, the state government would not follow the ‘contemptuous example’ of those who are currently commenting, adjudicating upon and giving directives on matters currently being litigated upon.



https://www.legit.ng/1249697-obaseki-house-reps-you-sincerely-lack-powers-shut-edo-assembly.html