The unending crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly, has not only continued to generate reactions but has also continued to attract concerns from various stakeholders in the state.

It would be recalled that the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye had, during the 50th-anniversary thanksgiving of the state Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu, pleaded with the absentee lawmakers-elect to present themselves for inauguration so they could serve their constituents.

However, the Speaker took a drastic decision few weeks ago, in which he declared vacant the seats of the 12 legislators-elect, for their refusals to present themselves for inauguration.

The Speaker’s decision was said to have worsened the tenuous political situation in the state. Apart from the 12 lawmakers-elect, the House of Assembly also vacated the seats of two other members that could not meet up the mandatory sitting requirement for the 7th Assembly.

As it was gathered, the resolution to declare their seats vacant was reached at the plenary on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. The seats that were declared vacant include: Etsako West I, Etsako West II, Owan East, Owan West, Etsako Central, Etsako East, and Esan Central; Uhunmwonde, Oredo East, Oredo West, Egor, Ovia North East I, Ovia North East II and Ovia southwest I.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Yekini Idiaye told newsmen that although, two of those affected from Oredo East and Owan East were sworn-in, but failed to meet the mandatory 181-day sitting requirement for a member in a legislative calendar year.

In the cases of others that were yet to be inaugurated since the proclamation of the House, the deputy speaker clarified that their constituents have been complaining and have come to the House to request that they want their voices and concerns to be heard in the House.

“So, people who are willing to provide quality representation have to be elected to bring the matters of the distraught constituents to the floor for debate and legislation, where necessary,” Idiaye added.