The lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo II, PDP, Donald Okogbe, has condemned his suspension alongside two other lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly.

It was reported that Okogbe and two other lawmakers were accused by the Edo Assembly Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku Agbebaku, of being influenced by external forces to cause chaos and remove the leadership of the House.

They were also accused of bringing native doctors into the House at midnight on Wednesday.

Reacting to his suspension, Okogbe said due process was not followed and that their suspension would not stand.

He said: “The move for suspension is illegal because the rules of the House and the Constitution of the country is such that every decision the House of Assembly will take must be reached by way of resolution.
“Resolution to the effect that somebody must move a motion, it will be seconded by another person and on the basis of that a resolution will be reached.

“But in this case, the Speaker just came in, sat on the red chair and pronounced that the three of us have been suspended, there was no motion, there was no seconder and because he did not follow the due process, there was no voting on the matter and there was uproar and the Speaker hurriedly adjourned even though nobody again moved any motion for adjournment.”

Addressing the ‘Juju’ allegation, Okogbe said: “Last week, the Speaker came and said that he had a video that a member came into the House in the evening with somebody who looked like a juju man and the member said he came to check his Hilux parked because he got information that his driver normally comes to carry the vehicle at odd hours and that he only came to check.

“While on his way, a member of his constituency saw him and followed him to the compound and there prayed for him with a kolanut to wish him well. This has nothing to do with me at all.”

Edo Assembly: My suspension cannot stand – Okogbe