By Our Correspondent
The leadership crisis that has been rocking Warri South Legislative Arm has taken a new twist with the impeachment of Leader of the House, Hon. Marcus Udoyo, Deputy Leader, Hon. Matthew Dada and Majority Leader, Hon. Romeo Ogedegbe by 13 Councilors of the 19-member Legislature.
The sacked Leadership of the House was immediately replaced with the former Leader of the House, Hon. Sunday Aguweye, Deputy Leader, Hon. Richard Pessu, Majority Leader, Hon. Darlington Semuge and Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Ochuko Eyekpimi after a sitting which lasted for about 40 minutes at the Council Legislative Chamber.
Three members of the House were on Tuesday January 10, 2017 suspended during plenary attended by about 1/3 of the members.
The crisis in the Warri South Legislative Arm is further widened by its political implication due to the power sharing arrangement PDP Leaders in Warri South came up with several years ago after the Warri crisis.
The arrangement is such that Itsekiri produces the Council Chairman, Agbarha Warri Urhobos produce the Vice Chairman, while Okere-Urhobo was ceded with the position of Leader of the Legislative Arm.
Before the return of Hon. Sunday Aguweye as Leader and Hon. Richard Pessu as Deputy Leader in the fresh House Leadership change by the 13 Councilors, the impeached Leader, Hon. Marcus Udoyo, an alleged loyalist of Hon. Dennis Omovie is Urhobo from Agbarha Warri, same area with the Vice Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Hon. Charlie Etsagha, a situation that negates the power sharing arrangement by top PDP Leaders in Warri South.
Our Correspondent who covered the sitting where the latest House Leadership change purportedly took place, reports that Hon. Ochuko Eyekpimi was elected as Leader Pro Tempo to Preside over the Plenary with the Clerk of the House, Comrade Affor Godfrey Maku in attendance.
A motion for the suspension of the votes and proceedings of Tuesday January 10 was moved by Hon. Joseph Oborume representing Ogunu/Ekurede Urhobo Ward and was seconded by Hon. Oris Eyikimi.
A unanimous voice vote nullifying the controversial suspension order placed on Honourables Darlington Semuge, Jude Onovughe and Isaac Hesse Edah was passed, while a motion for the House to go into “matter of urgent public importance” was moved and the Leader Pro- Tempo granted the motion.
Our Correspondent reports that a motion was subsequently raised for the election of new Leadership with the members present unanimously mentioning the names of Hon. Sunday Aguweye, Hon. Richard Pessu, Hon. Darlington Semuge and Hon. Ochuko Eyekpimi as Leader, Deputy Leader, Majority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader respectively.
They were reinstated in their various positions which they lost some months ago in the House shake-up, while Hon. Marcus Udoyo, Hon. Matthew Dada, Hon. Romeo Ogedegbe, Hon. Kingsley Tenumah and Hon. Kingsley Edafiadjebra were suspended indefinitely, pending further investigations against them.
The lawmakers relied on section 7(a & b) of the standing Order of the House in carrying out their action.
The impeachment and suspension notice was signed by 13 Honourable members. They are: Hon. Jude Onovughe, representing Okumagba 1, Hon. Sunday Aguweye, representing Otor-Orere ward, Hon. Richard Pessu, representing Pessu ward, Hon. Jessah Paul, representing Olodi/Okpeki ward, Hon. Ochuko Eyekpimi, representing Ighogbadu ward, Hon. Oris Eyikimi, representing Ode-Itsekiri ward, Hon. Daniel Alidu, representing Esisi ward, Hon. Oborume Joseph, representing Ogunu/Ekurede Urhobo ward, Hon. Lebi Yonwuren, representing Ugbuwangue ward, Hon. Murphy Oleju, representing Otovwodu ward, Hon. Isaac Hesse Edah, representing GRA ward, Hon. Darlington Semuge, representing Orugbo ward and Hon. Jarvis Toritseju, representing Ajamimogha ward.
