There was tension and drama, yesterday, as combatants for Edo State governorship fought squarely for the soul of the State House of Assembly.
Seventeen lawmakers, including 14 members-elect whose seats had previously been declared vacant, met; swore-in the members-elect; elected a new speaker, Victor Edoror; impeached the speaker of the house, Frank Okiye, and his deputy, Roland Asoro; and fixed plenary for today.
The 17 factional members, who are in the majority (the House has 24 members), dodged attempts by the state government and House leadership to stop them from carrying out the acts which speaker Okiye dismissed as a joke.
As early as 8 am, policemen, personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and armed plain-clothes security men took over the State House of Assembly complex over allegations that 19 lawmakers were planning to storm the Chief Anthony Enahoro complex, elect a speaker, principal officers and commence legislative activities.
The development made the governor to cut short his campaign visit to attend to the situation. He visited the assembly complex in company of his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, to meet with the speaker, Frank Okiye, and four other lawmakers.
As at 8:07 am when Vanguard visited the complex, no less than 19 patrol vehicles belonging to the Police and NSCDC were stationed in front of the complex, the entrance and exit gates used by lawmakers.
The police officers were seen being coordinated by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Ayoola Ajala.(Vanguard)