The Edo State House of Assembly on Wednesday accused Imo governor Hope Uzodinma of acting in concert with the the All Progressives Congress in Edo State to stage a leadership coup at the state’s house of assembly.
Frank Okiye, the Speaker of the state’s house of assembly, said that Mr Uzodinma was working with some members of the state’s APC chapter including Mr Yekini Idiaye the former Deputy Speaker to forcefully take over the assembly.
Mr Okiye said: “The dubious plan by the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, and stakeholders of the APC in Edo State to import fake mace to take over the Edo State House of Assembly working on cahoots with the former deputy speaker, who recently declared support for the candidate of the APC to congregate in a secret location to illegally and violently take over the control of the Assembly has been brought to our notice.”
Mr Uzodinma’s representative Simon Ebegbulem denied the accusation. Ebegbulem, Imo’s Commissioner for Special Projects said: “The illegal Speaker and his governor are not making sense to me with this baseless allegation. I don’t even know what they are talking about because there is no House of Assembly in Edo State.”
The former deputy speaker, Idiaye, was impeached a day earlier for alleged gross misconduct.
Idiaye’s impeachment was sealed after Mr Henry Okhuarobo of Ikpoba-Okha constituency moved the motion, which was seconded by Mr Marcus Onobun of Esan-West constituency.
Mr Roland Asoro, representing Orhionmwon-South constituency was elected Deputy Speaker while the former Chief Whip of the House, Mr Henry Okhuarobo, was appointed Leader. His former deputy, Mr Marcus Onobun replaced him as Chief Whip.