The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Justin Okonoboh, has been impeached. He was impeached by lawmakers at the Assembly on Monday in Benin City for allegedly running the affairs of the Assembly like a family show including co-opting his wife into mainstream matters that affected the Assembly.
In his place, Mr. Kabiru Ajoto (APC) representing Akoko-Edo Constituency 1 was elected as the new Speaker. He is the second speaker to be impeached since the government of Godwin Obaseki of the APC.
His predecessor, Victor Edoror, was impeached under similar circumstances in June 2016.
Okonoboh was impeached along with the deputy speaker, Elizabeth Ativie and the majority leader, Foly Ogedengbe by 16 members of the Assembly.
Other principal officers elected were Victor Edoror, the former speaker representing Esan Central constituency as the new deputy speaker and Roland Asoro, representing Orhionmwon 11, as the majority leader.
Speaking to journalists, Adjoto confirmed that 16 members carried out the impeachments, saying the impeached principal officers have also been suspended for three months alongside Mr. Magnus Izehi-Igbas, (PDP) representing Esan North-East constituency 11.
He alleged that the impeached speaker ran the House as a private entity in conjunction with his wife.
According to him, ”the impeached speaker converted the House to a private estate. We are supposed to be 24 members in the House but he co-opted his wife as 25th member who was now privileged to know all the operations before the members. He also awarded contracts to himself without recourse to the house standing rules and due process.”
