The House of Representatives on 17 July 2019 responded to the crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly, calling on the latter to either abide by its set conditions or risk National Assembly’s intervention in its affairs.
This came as it adopted the recommendations from a 13-Man Ad-hoc Committee that was constituted on Tuesday, 9th July 2019 to investigate the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly that led to the election of Frank Okiye as Speaker by 9 out of 24 Members-Elect on 17 June 2019.
The Committee had recommended that the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki issue a fresh proclamation stating the time, date and venue of inauguration within a week, which should be published in any National Daily and Television Station. The House of Representatives also called for a declaration nullifying the actions of the 9 Members in electing a Speaker, pending proper inauguration. The National Assembly threatened to take over the affairs of the Edo State Assembly should its resolution be disobeyed.
Section 11(4) of the Constitution provides as follows:
“ At any time when any House of Assembly of a State is unable to perform its functions by reason of the situation prevailing in that State, the National Assembly may make such laws for the peace, order and good government of that State with respect to matters on which a House of Assembly may make laws as may appear to the National Assembly to be necessary or expedient until such time as the House of Assembly is able to resume its functions; and any such laws enacted by the National Assembly pursuant to this section shall have effect as if they were laws enacted by the House of Assembly of the State”
However, Mr. Osaradion Ogie, Secretary to the Government of Edo State has described the action of the House of Representatives as “illegal and an abuse of power” arguing that the powers to invoke section 11(4) must be enforced by a joint resolution of both chambers (Senate and House of Representatives) and not an arm of it.
He also argued that the condition for intervention in section 11(4) had not been met as there was no evidence that supported this claim and criticized the inconsistent approach of the two chambers as the Senate had rather opted to embark on a fact finding delegation with Stakeholders in Benin to “fashion out a road map of peace.” The House has nevertheless transmitted its resolution for the Senate’s concurrence.