Nineteen members of the Edo state House of Assembly on Monday morning impeached their speaker, Justin Okonoboh.
The Deputy Speaker, Elizabeth Active and the Majority Leader, Folly Ogedegbe were also impeached.
Subsequently, Kabiru Adjoto, the member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency 1 was elected Speaker; Victor Editor of Esan Central was elected the Deputy Speaker, and Roland Asoro of Orhiomwhon ll elected the Majority Leader.
Addressing journalists in his office, Adjoto accused Okonoboh of shutting the House for six weeks when he travelled to the United States of America, “just because his son was graduating.”
He said they were elected to be a partner in Edo State project with the Governor of the State whom he described as a performing Governor, adding that 16 members had the constitutional right to impeach the principal officers.
He said the impeached principal officers had been suspended for three months as well as Magnus Izehi-Igbas of PDP who represents Esan North-East constituency ll.
“The impeached Speaker converted the House to his private estate. We are supposed to be 24 members in the House, but he now co-opted his wife as the 25th member who was privileged to know all the operations before the members.
“He also awarded contracts to his personal self without recourse to the house standing rules and due process.
“Subsequently, the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and they Majority Leader of the House remain suspended to enable us investigate their activities. Interestingly, we have a performing Executive. We want to legislate for the people to move the State forward,” Mr Adjoto said.
The impeached Majority Leader, Foly Ogedengbe, described the action as null, void and unconstitutional.
He said they were allegedly impeached by only 11 members, a violation of two third majority.
