The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the arrest of former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole over the Edo State Assembly crisis.
DAILY POST had reported that 14 lawmakers elect on Thursday impeached the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye and Roland Asoro, respectively.
It was also alleged that there were plans to impeach the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on Friday.
The premises of Edo State House of Assembly on Thursday was also besieged by men of the Nigeria police force.
Reacting, a statement signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, strongly condemed the action of the police.
The group described the invasion by the Nigeria Police Force as ‘unconstitutional and illegal.’
It said, “The inspector general of police should read sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 of the constitution to know that he has no powers to interfere in the affairs of the state legislature unless he is legally and duly invited by the properly constituted authority of the state legislature.”
The group alleged that if the Police were no invited by the Speaket and if the speculation is true that the police was there to destabilize the Edo state House of Assembly, then the action must stop.
HURIWA also called for the arrest and prosecution of the officers who carried out the illegal operation and person who authorized their actions.
“If the IGP was the one that gave the illegal order then he should be arrested and prosecuted because he is not above the law, if on the other hand, the presence of the police in Edo State house of Assembly is on the invitation from the speaker it is ok, provided the police is properly invited by the properly constituted authority of the Edo state house of Assembly.
“If it is the former Chairman of APC Adams Oshiomhole that invited the police then it is illegal and he too should be arrested for attempted overthrow of a part of government because it is a coup and treason for anybody to try to change any government through illegalities as adumbrated unambiguously by the Supreme law of Nigeria,” it said.
According to the group, Oshiomhole and President Muhammadu Buhari lacked the constitutional power to remover the properly constituted hierarchy of the legislative chambers.
Calling on Edo State people to stand up for their rights, it warned all political actors to play the game by the rules and allow peace in the State.
