VOICE AIR MEDIA News Update

Two Members-Elect to the 8th Assembly of the Osun State House of Assembly – Hons. Oyewusi Akinyode Abidemi (Ife North State Constituency) and Lawal Bamidele Rasheed (Osogbo State Constituency) – have filed a case before the Osogbo Judicial Division of the High Court of Justice of Osun State.

The case lists the Osun State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the Assembly and the Clerk of the Assembly as first, second and third respondents respectively.

The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration of the court that the provision of Rule 4(a) of the Osun State House of Assembly Legislative Standing Rules is inconsistent with the provision of Section 92(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), thereby unconstitutional, null and void.

Rule 4(a) of the Assembly Standing Rules provides that “A Member-elect, addressing the Clerk, shall propose a ranking member-elect from the majority party that such member-elect, “Do take the Chair of the House as Speaker of the House of Assembly” provided such a nomination shall be seconded by another Member-elect”.

This means that ONLY ranking members of the House of Assembly can be Speaker of the House, according to the House Standing Rules.

Section 92(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states that, “There shall be a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of a House of Assembly who shall be elected by the members of the House from among themselves.”

In simpler terms, what the case appears to be seeking to achieve is give opportunity to first-time Members of the 8th Assembly to be Speaker of the Assembly. This will be a clear departure from the legislative practice in the Osun Assembly and against the clear provisions of the House of Assembly Standing Rules.

According to Osun Situation Room findings, there are indications that some Members-Elect, backed by some forces within the ruling PDP, are considering the possibility of a first-time Member of the Assembly becoming Speaker, against established practice and House rules. (SOURCE: Betareports)

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