Edo Assembly Lifts Suspension of Two Lawmakers After 5 Months
saga that began in May 2024. The two lawmakers had been suspended alongside Bright Iyamu for their alleged involvement in a plot to impeach the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, and other principal officers of the house.
The suspension, which sent ripples through Edo’s political landscape, has now been fully resolved as the assembly announced the lawmakers’ reinstatement at a plenary session held on Wednesday in Benin. The recall of Okogbe (PDP-Akoko-Edo II) and Isibor (APC-Esan North-East I) follows the earlier reinstatement of Bright Iyamu, who was brought back in June after expressing remorse for his involvement in the plot.
Background of the Suspensions
In early May, Donald Okogbe, Adeh Isibor, and Bright Iyamu were suspended by the Edo House of Assembly for their alleged role in a conspiracy to oust key leaders of the assembly, including Speaker Blessing Agbebaku. This internal turmoil within the legislative body resulted in the removal of the three lawmakers from their positions while the assembly investigated the allegations.
While Iyamu was reinstated a month later, citing remorse for his actions, Okogbe and Isibor remained suspended until their recent recall in October. During this period, tensions simmered within the assembly, but the recent reconciliation appears to have brought some measure of stability back to Edo’s legislative body.
Speaker Agbebaku’s Remarks
Speaker Blessing Agbebaku, who has been at the center of the suspension saga, addressed the matter during the assembly’s resumption of plenary. He welcomed the two lawmakers back into the fold, signaling a sense of closure to the crisis that had rocked the assembly for the past few months.
Agbebaku also took the opportunity to congratulate the Edo state governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, on his successful victory in the just-concluded gubernatorial election. He emphasized that Okpebholo is not just a governor for the All Progressives Congress (APC), but for all the people of Edo State. In his statement, Agbebaku expressed his hopes that sycophants and political opportunists would not mislead the new governor-elect as he assumes office.
In addition to addressing the political climate, Agbebaku expressed gratitude to the lawmakers for their commitment to legislative duties, particularly during the passage of important bills and resolutions over the last few months. He lauded their diligence despite the suspension issue and noted that the assembly had approved a 57-sitting day calendar for the second quarter of its second session.
Restoring Order in the Edo Assembly
The recall of Okogbe and Isibor marks a significant step toward restoring normalcy in the Edo House of Assembly. Over the past several months, the assembly had been grappling with internal strife, which was magnified by the suspension of three lawmakers. Now that all parties have been reinstated, attention can shift back to governance and legislative matters that will impact the people of Edo State.
With the legislative body back in full swing, the focus is expected to shift toward key policy matters, especially as the newly elected governor prepares to take office. This newfound sense of unity within the Edo Assembly may be instrumental in setting the stage for more productive collaboration between the legislative and executive branches of the government.
Social Media Reactions
The recall of the lawmakers has sparked conversations on social media, with various reactions from the public:
- @NaijaPolitics101: “Good to see Edo Assembly moving past the drama. Time to focus on real issues that affect the people.”
- @BeninObserver: “Glad the lawmakers are back. Suspensions over political disagreements shouldn’t last this long.”
- @EdoUpdates: “Speaker Agbebaku showing leadership by bringing everyone back on board. Time for unity in the house.”
- @Femi_Jay: “These politicians are always fighting each other instead of working for the people. Let’s see if they can get anything done now.”
- @LawmanMoses: “Great move by Edo Assembly. Hopefully, this marks the end of unnecessary drama.”
- @LadyGloriaX: “The speaker was right to suspend them, but it’s also right to bring them back now that the issues have been resolved.”
- @AbujaCorrespondent: “Congrats to the reinstated lawmakers. Hope you’ve learned something from this ordeal.”
- @VoiceofEdo: “Governor-elect Okpebholo should work closely with the assembly now that everyone is back. Edo people need strong governance.”
- @Kelechi_Writes: “Edo Assembly should now focus on passing bills that will benefit Edo people. Enough with the power struggles!”
- @OmoEdoState: “Suspension lifted, crisis over. Edo Assembly needs to work on development projects, not more political drama.”
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