BREAKING NEWS : Edo Speaker to Step Aside Monday

In order to balance the tripod arrangement in Edo state, the Speaker of the state Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elizabeth Ativie, will step aside as speaker, THISDAY has gathered.

The arrangement was said to have been agreed by the ruling APC leaders following the emergence of Godwin Obaseki as candidate from Edo South Senatorial district and Philip Shaibu as his running mate from Edo North.

Should this happen, the tripod arrangements of the party will now favour Edo Central Senatorial district to produce the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

It would be recalled that the former Speaker, Victor Edoror, who was of Esan extraction (Esan Central state constituency), was impeached on May 3 this year for alleged financial impropriety and high handedness and was replaced by Ativie (Uhunmwonde state constituency) from Edo south.

Against this backdrop, the people of Edo central cried blue murder, accusing Governor Adams Oshiomhole of marginalising the area.

However, after the APC primaries on June 18, 2016, and the eventual nomination of the running mate, the party leaders, sensing the danger pose ahead of the September 10th governorship election, met with Governor Oshiomhole and resolved to returned the Speaker of the assembly back to Edo Central Senatorial district.

With this, a competent source, a current member of the House who preferred his name not mentioned, said the Speaker, Hon. Elizabeth Ativie will on Monday 25th step down as Speaker and that will come as a motion.

The source further disclosed that as compensation, Ativie has been offered the Deputy Speakership, with other parting allowances.

Further details later

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