PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE 2019 EDO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (EDHA) PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) CANDIDATES ON 15TH DECEMBER, 2021 AT THE PARTY’S SECRETARIAT BENIN CITY.
Distinguished Gentlemen and Ladies of the Press, we are members of PDP that contested the March 9, 2019 election into the Edo State House of Assembly.
You will recall the heat generated after the election as well as the inauguration of those declared winners by INEC after the presentation of certificate of returns. This led to the unfortunate situation that has put the Legislative arm of government into an unprecedented and unwarranted representative imbalance.
As it stands today well over 1.6m constituents have been denied a voice in the State which is tantamount to a breach of the rights as citizens of the various constituencies.
Section 117 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stated in quote “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, every State constituency established in accordance with the provisions of this part of this Chapter shall return one member who shall be directly elected to a House of Assembly in such manner as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly”.
For how long can the people be denied their rights?
From June 17, 2019 to date its already 2 years and 6 months of this breach. In the next 18 months the tenure of that legislative session would have expired without the constitutional representation.
THE ORIGIN OF WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES TODAY
We are aware that several overtures were made to those who refused to be sworn in but the calls fell on deaf ears. They pitched their tents in Abuja under the sponsorship of their godfathers.
The constitution of the country is supreme and its not a respecter of persons. The Speaker of the House invoked section 109: 1(f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to declare their seats and constituencies vacant calling on INEC to conduct a by- election to fill the vacuum.
For the benefit of doubt, it is important to filter the 14 vacant seats. Two of them were sworn in and therefore were legally members of the House of Assembly until their seats were declared vacant in line with section 109:1(f) of the Constitution. The remaining 12 former members-elect were never sworn in non subjected themselves to oath of office technically indicative of their refusal of the offer to serve the people having been elected and given certificate of return by INEC.
OUR STAND
1. The case of the 14 is a closed one except it is not true that the Constitution is supreme. To continue to discuss their fate will amount to a slap on the intergrity of our nation indicative of the misnomer that some few can take the country for granted due to their internal party disagreement. This is a precedent that must not be encouraged in our sociopolitical development as a nation.
2. The certificate of return issued to them have stalled and therefore must be withdrawn forthwith.
3. Nature abhor vacuum. Therefore an urgent solution must be sought to ensure the four years of the rightful legislative representation of the 14 constituencies is not wasted.
4. We believe the option left now for 12 seats is to apply the Globally accepted Doctrine of Neccesity to resolve the logjam. The candidates that came second in the election should be sworn in to replace those who refused to be inaugurated. For the 2 seats of those who were sworn in but refused to continue to sit, INEC should immediately conduct a by election.
5. In the alternative, INEC should immediately put in place the process to ensure a by election is conducted in the entire 14 constituencies.
Conclusion
We call on all the stakeholders including the press to intensify efforts aimed at resolving this issue in the interest of the political developments of the State.
Thanks and God bless
Signed
Hon. Igbas Ezehi, Chairman
Victor Nosa Omoregie, (Ovia North East 1) Secretary
ZUBAIRU DADA ABUBAKAR – ETSAKO WEST CONSTITUENCY 1.
BARR. AFEBU AIGBONOGA – ETSAKO WEST CONSTITUENCY 2.
Barr. Ekoh Okoyomo innocent – ESAN CENTRAL.
Stephen OSAYOMWABOR Ibizugbe -Ovia North East 2
BAR. JIMMY OSAGIEDE – EGOR CONSTITUENCY.
OSADEBAMWEN M. OKORO – OREDO EAST CONSTITUENCY.(IN COURT SEPARATELY)
VEEADAMS IGHODARO – UHUNMWODE CONSTITUENCY.
