POLITICS Edo Assembly: Why Buhari, AGF, IG are with us, Okiye, Asoro remain Impeached – Lawmaker

Published on August 7, 2020By Timothy Omobude



Hon. Washington Osa Osifo, member representing Uhunmwonde constituency in Edo State House of Assembly has said the action of the honourable members in suspending the former Speaker and Deputy on Thursday was as a result of the approval of their petition to President Muhammadu Buhari who directed the Attorney General of the Federation that there should be a proper House of Assembly in the state.

He said the Attorney General as the chief custodian of the laws in Nigeria further directed the Inspector General of the Police on why the directive of the president should be implemented.


Recall that the fourteen members had reported Gov. Obaseki to President Buhari through a petition sometime last year when they claimed proper procedure was not followed before the inauguration.

Buhari while replying the members-elect then said that when his cabinet is formed, he would direct whoever emerged as the Attorney General to look into the matter with regard to advising on the position of the law. And whatever becomes of it, the Attorney General would also direct the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the normal thing is done.


He said the AGF as the chief law officer in Nigeria only looked at what the law says concerning their petition side by side and came out with extant law that the fourteen lawmakers’ position was backed by the law and supported by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and based on that, the IG was advised to do the needful.

According to Washington, ‘Under section 91 of our constitution, a house shall consist of not less than 24 members and not more than 40 members, meaning it is mandatory not optional. How can you have a House of Assembly with very few members and you call that a House or a legislative gathering.


”For the governor, it’s a pity and it’s time for Edo to celebrate. We, the 24 of us have now been inaugurated.”

Washington stressed that it is high time the former Speaker and Deputy accept the present reality for purposeful and resourceful legislative business.

”On September governorship poll, it’s going to be peaceful and my advice to the youths is that they should not yield to negative vices,” he said