Impeachment plot: Our suspension vendetta, politically motivated – Edo lawmakers

The lawmakers suspended by the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku at plenary on Monday, have described their suspension as vendetta and politically motivated.

DAILY POST reports that the speaker of the House, suspended Donald Okogbe, PDP, Akoko-Edo II, Addeh Emankhu Isibor, APC, Esan North-East I and Iyamu Bright, PDP, Orhionnwon II for alleged plot to impeach him and other principal officers of the House.

Reacting, the trio described their suspension as vendetta, politically motivated, and tyranny of the red chamber.

Speaking for the suspended lawmakers, Donald Okogbe, an ally of the impeached deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, opined that by the rules of the House and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the speaker does not have the unilateral power to suspend a member.

According to him, “the news came as a shock and what is more important is that the rules of the House and the constitution of the country made it clear that suspension can only be approved if it enjoys the support of the majority of the members.

“So our position is that the speaker does not have the sole power to suspend. That is the point we made in the House.”

The PDP lawmaker, who said the allegations levelled against them were untrue and founded, opined that the action of the speaker “is just impunity and tyranny of the red chair.”

He also described the speaker’s actions as “tyranny of one man to suppress the democratic ideals that the House stands for.”

While also denying the allegations of knowing anything about the fetish materials deposited at the premises of the House, he noted that as a Catholic and does not get involved in rituals.

Also speaking, Iyamu Bright, PDP, Orhionnwon II alleged that the suspension was not in line with the relevant House rules and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

DAILY POST recalls that Donald Okogbe was the only member of the House that voted against the impeachment of Philip Shaibu during a voice vote by the legislators.