Edo speaker apologizes as party intervenes to recall suspended lawmakers

Edo House of Representatives Speaker Blessing Agbebaku on Tuesday apologized for the raucous Monday plenary session that saw three lawmakers suspended for allegedly conspiring to oust him.

LEADERSHIP has reliably learned that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has fallen into crisis leading to suspension to recall lawmakers.

The Speaker had on Monday indefinitely suspended MPs for allegedly plotting to remove him and other senior officials.

The suspended MPs are Okogbe Donald, PDP, Akoko-Edo II; Addeh Isibor, APC, Esan North-East I, and Iyamu Bright, PDP, Orhionnwon II.

Agbebaku also accused the lawmakers of bringing local doctors to the House of Representatives on May 1 for fetish purposes.

“I would like to apologize to the staff of this assembly for what happened during the plenary session on Monday. It was not our intention to create tension in the house.

“I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve experienced something like this. We promise it won’t happen again. “This apology is because we value you very much,” Agbebaku said.

Meanwhile, other members met with the suspended member for several hours to find a solution to the crisis and ensure that the suspended members rejoin the House of Representatives.

One of the members, who pleaded anonymity, said the idea behind the meeting was to find ways to lift the suspension.

The member said: “We met today (Tuesday) to find a way to lift the suspension of the three members. There will be a meeting on Thursday and hopefully the suspension on Monday will be lifted in plenary on Monday.

“We all agreed that the suspension was unconstitutional and thereby brought disrepute on the House of Representatives.”