TELL Magazine

The 8th Edo State House of Assembly will be inaugurated Friday, June 16, 2023. The state governor, Godwin Obaseki, has to this effect, issued the instrument of the proclamation for the inauguration of the House, which would hold its first session on the specified date after swearing in the members.
In a letter dated June 14, 2023, and addressed to the Clerk of Edo State House of Assembly, the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said: “I write at the instance of His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki and to forward herewith a PROCLAMATION UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 for necessary action by the House of Assembly.”
The notice by the Governor to the Assembly reads thus: “WHEREAS, it is provided in Sub-section (3) of Section 105 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 that the person elected as Governor shall have the power to issue a Proclamation for the holding of the First Session of the State Assembly immediately after swearing-in:
“NOW, THEREFORE, I MR. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, Governor, Edo State in the exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Sub-section (3) of Section 105 aforesaid, and all other powers enabling me on that behalf, hereby proclaim that the First Session of the Eighth Assembly of the Edo State House of Assembly shall hold at the Edo State House of Assembly on Friday, the 16th day of June 2023 in the House of Assembly, Benin City.
“Given under my hand and the Public Seal of Edo State, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at Benin City, this 14th Day of June 2023”.
Recall that the crisis which hit the 7th Assembly following a nocturnal inauguration of nine out of the 24-member House remained unresolved. A minority of 10 members loyal to the governor had carried on with legislative duties with the group of 14 whose seats were later declared vacant, left in the lurch. The cases they had filed in court in the state against their exclusion did not see the light of day four years after.