TheCable

Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, says the happenings in Edo portend grave danger for the country.

In a series of tweets on Thursday, Atiku said recent events in the state threaten the constitutional order.

He advised politicians not to worsen the already tense atmosphere and asked every concerned party to abide by the rule of law and allow the people of the state to choose who they wish to govern them.

“Nigeria has been on edge due to the brinkmanship of those charged with democratic leadership. We must, as a nation, not escalate the already tense atmosphere in our polity,” he said.

“What is happening in Edo State is a threat to constitutional order nationwide, and I strongly urge belligerent forces to reign in their proxies and abide by the rule of law. As I have previously said, without the rule of law, there will be no rule at all.

“The current goings-on portends grave danger, not only to law and order in that state but to the coming Edo elections.

“The people of Edo state should be allowed to choose who they wish to govern them, and that choice is to be made on September 19, 2020. Pending then, everything legally possible must be done to preserve the status quo.”

Nigeria has been on edge due to the brinkmanship of those charged with democratic leadership. We must, as a nation, not escalate the already tense atmosphere in our polity.

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 6, 2020

What is happening in Edo State is a threat to constitutional order nationwide, and I strongly urge belligerent forces to reign in their proxies and abide by the rule of law. As I have previously said, without the rule of law, there will be no rule at all.

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— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 6, 2020

The current goings-on portends grave danger, not only to law and order in that state but to the coming Edo elections.

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 6, 2020

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The people of Edo state should be allowed to choose who they wish to govern them, and that choice is to be made on September 19, 2020. Pending then, everything legally possible must be done to preserve the status quo.

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— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 6, 2020

The crisis at the state house of assembly started when Yekini Idiaye, deputy speaker of the assembly, was removed on Wednesday.

Following his removal, Francis Okiye, the speaker, raised the alarm that there was a plot to “forcefully take over the assembly”.

On Thursday morning, security operatives took over the assembly complex to “forestall any attack on the assembly”, but Okiye alleged that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was behind the action of the security operatives.

Some hours later, 12 lawmakers-elect of the assembly took their oath of office after more than year of being elected.

Victor Edoror, who was removed as deputy speaker in 2018, was elected as speaker.

A source told TheCable that they took their oath of office at a hidden location in Benin, the state capital.

The source also said the lawmakers have been mandated to remove Godwin Obaseki, the governor, but TheCable could not verify the claim.