Oshiomhole Vs Obaseki: Court Orders NASS To Stop Move To Take Over Edo Assembly

The federal high court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the National Assembly to suspend plots to take over the Edo State House of Assembly.

The ruling was made following an application by Governor Godwin Obaseki challenging a resolution by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo ordered the parties in the case to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.

Naija News reports that a rift between the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole and Obaseki had led to the creation of factions in the state assembly.

Nine lawmakers loyal to Obaseki were secretly inaugurated on June 17, leaving their colleagues in the camp of Oshiomhole stranded.

The Senate and the House of Reps had ordered Governor Obaseki to issue a fresh proclamation to enable all members-elect to be sworn in.

The National Assembly ordered the Nigeria Police to take over the State Assembly if Obaseki fails to obey their directive.

However, the Edo State governor ejected the order by the National Assembly, describing it as an “illegality that cannot stand”.

Recall that a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State not to issue a fresh proclamation letter as directed by the Nigeria Senate.

The court gave the order following a request by the Deputy Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Hon. Yekini Idiaye; and the member representing Ikpoba-Okha Constituency in the Edo Assembly, Hon. Henry Okhuarobo, who filed the application.

The court also stopped the Clerk of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, their servants, agents, officers or privies from interfering or taking over the legislative functions of the Edo State House of Assembly.