The power to bring back 14 un-inaugurated elected Edo lawmakers lies with the court, not me – Obaseki

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said that he does not have the authority to bring back 14 State House of Assembly-elects yet to be inaugurated.

Obaseki stated this in an interview with newsmen when he paid a thank-you visit to the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PAP) in Abuja on Monday.

Obaseki stated that the group of 14 elected-lawmakers were not prevented from being inaugurated, but they “refused to be inaugurated”.

He said: “They were listening to their godfather who kept hoping and promising that he would unconstitutionally get the state House of Assembly to reissue a proclamation even after the court had settled the matter.

“For more than 180 days, they did not come. They refused to represent the people. Those seats became vacant. That’s what the constitution says.

Obaseki said that the affected members-elect went to court after their were declared vacant by the Speaker maintaining that “there is nothing I can do to that at this time”.

“I wish it did not happen, but people were playing God and promising what is not constitutionally possible..

“The seats are now vacant.

“We should learn that democracy is underpinned by the constitution and the law.

“Even if I wanted today to bring them back, I don’t have such powers.

“I do not have anything against them because I do not have such authority to bring them back to the House.”

Obaseki was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, and other PDP leaders from Edo State, including former Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen; and the former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi.