BREAKING: [PHOTOS] Police Take Over Edo Assembly, As APC Set To Remove Speaker, Inaugurate 14 Members – Elect

Police have taken over the Edo State House of Assembly complex in Benin City, the state capital.

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Dozens of the security officials stormed the complex on Thursday morning while patrol vehicles were stationed there.

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The police officers were led to the Assembly by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Ayoola Ajala.

The police took the action following a reported threat of an attack on the facility.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) was said to have plotted the removal of Francis Okiye, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and replace him with Yekini Idiaye, the former Deputy Speaker who was impeached on Wednesday.

Following the Speaker’s removal and Idiaye’s election as the new Speaker, he is expected to swear in the 14 members-elect who were yet to be sworn in since the House was declared open on June 17 last year by Governor Godwin Obaseki

The affected members-elect are Vincent Uwadiae, Ovia North-East II; Ugiagbe Dumez, Ovia North-East I; Washington Osifo, Uhunmwode; Victor Edoror, Esan Central; Kingsley Ugabi, Etsako East and Michael Ohio-Ezomo, Owan West.

Others are Sunday Aghedo, Ovia South-West; Chris Okaeben, Oredo West; Crosby Eribo, Egor; Seid Aliyu Oshiomhole, Etsako West II; Oshomah Ahmed, Etsako Central and Ganiyu Audu, Etsako West I.

The Edo State House of Assembly had on Wednesday accused the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma and other APC Leaders of plotting to forcefully take over the Assembly with the importation of a fake mace to perfect the act.

It also alleged that the plan was in connivance with the impeached Deputy Speaker, Yekini Idiaye who recently declared support for the governorship candidate of APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.