Obaseki orders police to surround House

Eze-Iyamu.               Oshiomhole.          Obaseki

By Foluso Adelaja

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has ordered the police to give the State Assembly maximum security as he feared that there is a plan afloat by his political rivals to take over the assembly.

Obaseki and the Speaker of the State Assembly, Francis Okiye, today stormed the Assembly complex with hundreds of youths to keep vigil against the purported seizure of the assembly.

The invasion made the house a semblance of the "devil's workshop" as it was very rowdy since Police operatives have taken over and dozens of the security officials were seen at the complex with their patrol vehicles stationed around the complex.

Adding to the rowdiness were the chanting youth who claimed they came to the assembly to show solidarity to Governor Obaseki.

Sources close to the governor told THE STATEPOST that Obaseki was reliably informed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was  planning to take-over the House, impeach the Speaker and swear in the 14 member-elect who have been on exile in Abuja since June 2019.

Meanwhile the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  the new party of Governor Obaseki has raised alarm over the heavy presence of policemen and security operatives around the Edo State House of Assembly.

PDP alleged that the Federal Government has mobilized security operatives to take over the state House of Assembly.

In a tweet on it’s verified Twitter handle, the party claimed that the federal government’s decision was due to the popularity of the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

PDP, however, described the action as unacceptable. The Twitter handle reads:

“Breaking News! Irked by the growing popularity of @GovernorObaseki of Edo state and overwhelming acceptance by his people, the @OfficialAPCNg led Federal Government has mobilized @PoliceNG and other security agents to take over the state house of assembly. This is totally unacceptable,” PDP tweeted.

Rumour had it that some elected House members who are on the side of the All Progressive Congress, APC, loyal to the former party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole had perfected plans for sitting at the Assembly complex, which is currently under renovation.