By NewsMata
The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday announced that it was in receipt of a notification from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state informing it of its new status as majority party in the Eighth Assembly.
The letter from the ruling APC was addressed to the Speaker of the House Blessing Agbebaku, who read it to lawmakers at plenary.
Recall that four lawmakers – three from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and one from the Labour Party, LP, – recently defected to the APC, thereby outnumbering opposition party.
The members who defected were: Bright Iyamu representing Orhionmwon South, Donald Okogbe representing Akoko-Edo II, Sunday Ojezele representing Esan South East, all from the PDP, and Osaro Edosa representing Oredo West from the LP.
The letter also noted that at the appropriate time, the APC shall notify the House of the consequential effect of the present reality.
Part of the letter, titled “Notification of APC majority status in the Edo State House of Assembly read: “I write to formally notify you that the APC has attained the Majority status in the Edo State House of Assembly following the defection of the following members from their respective party to APC.”
Agbebaku acknowledged the APC’s new majority status, stating, “Distinguished members, you just heard the letter that was sent to me from the APC in Edo State. So, going by this letter, it means APC now has a majority in the House.”
Wishing the defectors well, Agbebaku said, “I want to wish the decampees well, and I wish them good endeavours.”
He said he was awaiting another letter from the APC nominating its principal officers, adding, “Thank you very much. I am waiting for the letter from APC for their nominees.”
With the recent development the APC now has 13 lawmakers while the PDP has 11 lawmakers and the LP none.
Another development at plenary was the presentation of the Report of the House Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry by its chairman Lecky Hussein Mustapha, on a Bill for a law to Provide for Public Private Partnerships, establish the Edo State Public Private Partnerships Agency, Enhance infrastructure and service development in Edo State.