Edo Crisis: Obaseki Gov’t Is Assaulting Constitution, Rule Of Law – APC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday accused the Edo State government of trampling on the constitution and rule of law over the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly.
The party in a statement issued by its Spokesman, Yekini Nabena, said the “activities of the state government on the assembly is a brazen assault on our constitution and the rule of law.”
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The APC statement followed Thursday’s takeover of the assembly complex by armed policemen and the sudden commencement of renovation work on the building.
Nabena called on all parties and their proxies to ensure peace and adherence to the rule of law in all their actions.
He also urged security services to stay vigilant and be guided by the law in their efforts to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the state.
The APC spokesman said “Amid the leadership crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly, the sudden renovation of the state’s legislative complex purportedly by the state government takes us back to the backward days of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administrations which normalised the desecration of other arms of governments to achieve political ends.”
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He also added: “Nigerians will also recall how the PDP introduced the repugnant “16 is greater than 19” political formula.
“By all standards, it is illegal to deny duly elected legislators their constitutional rights to represent their constituencies in government. For the 24-member Edo State House of Assembly, 7 cannot be greater than 17. Those days are gone.
“The independence of the legislature as an important arm of government must be guaranteed and protected without interference from the government (executive), partisans and other non-state actors. The activities of the Edo State government on the State House of Assembly is a brazen assault on our constitution and the rule of law.
“The governorship election in Edo state is forthcoming. The electorate must be allowed to cast their votes peacefully and not under threats of violence by the PDP and the state government.”
