At last, Edo Speaker swears-in PDP lawmaker
After months of dilly-dallying, the People Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker representing the Etsako West constituency 11 in the Edo State House of Assembly has been finally sworn-in by the Speaker of the Assembly.
The Tuesday swearing-in of Hon. Sylvanus Eruaga by the Speaker, observers say, was for the latter to avoid being charged for contempt of court.
Daily Times reports that the Clerk of the House, Lawson Ugiagbe, administered the oath of allegiance and membership of the House of Assembly on the lawmaker.
It would be recalled that the Appel Court sitting in Benin-City had affirmed the election of the lawmaker and ordered his immediately swearing-in but no action was taken to that effect until Tuesday.
The Appeal Court had, in December 12, 2015 upheld the judgment of the election petition tribunal in Benin that nullified the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Yakubu Gowon, winner of the Etsako West II state legislative seat by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The court in its judgment on December 12, 2015 affirmed that APC failed to give INEC the mandatory 21 day’s notice for the conduct of its primaries election.
The action of the Speaker to swear-in the lawmaker on Tuesday was to forestall committal to prison by the court of appeal for contempt.
Justice Olukayode Bada of the Court of Appeal had in a contempt charge against the speaker of the state house of assembly and clerk of the house last Monday gave 72 hours (Thursday) to the duo to appear in court to show why they should not be penalized for contempt.
Worried by the legal implication of the court summoned, the Speaker sent a text message to the lawmaker to appear in the plenary session for swearing in ceremony.
At the swearing ceremony, Speaker Edoror said the administration of oath of membership and allegiance on the lawmaker was sequel to the judgment of an election appeal court in Benin on December 12, 2015, coupled with the issuance of certificate of return by INEC as well as the declaration of assets by the legislator elect.
