The political war between the ASll Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi state may have taken a deeper dimension as the State House of Assembly, on Friday, declared the seats of two PDP lawmakers, Hon. Oliver Osi and Hon. Lilian Ngozi Eziulo vacant.
Osi is representing Ivo Constituency while Eziulo represents Afikpo North East Constituency in the state House of Assembly.
The Assembly took the decision during a plenary that took place at the Legislative Chamber, Nkaliki and presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Kingsley Ogbonaya Ikoro.
The Deputy Speaker, citing section 306, sub section 2 &7 of 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended, said that the seats of the two lawmakers were declared vacant following an allegation that the House forged their defection letters from PDP to APC.
Responding, Leader of the House, Victor Uzoma Chukwu, the Deputy leader Chief Onu Nwonye and member representing Onicha West Constituency, Hon Chukwuma Igwe, however, condemned the action of the embattled lawmakers whose seats were declared vacant and vowed that the law must take its cause.
In a swift reaction, the affected lawmakers, who spoke through Oliva Osi, said it’s only a court with competent jurisdiction that can declare their seats vacant and not members of the house.
He said, “The house can’t declare my seat vacant. We are lawmakers and not breakers. It’s only a court of competent jurisdiction that can declare my seat vacant or my constituents, by way of recall, can do that and not members of the house.
