From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Executive Director, People’s Defender Advocate, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, has said that the petition to recall Senator Neda Imasuen is a journey of shame and cannot stand.
He disclosed this while responding to the call by Leftist Omobude Agho and Comrade Ezeimwenghian Uwangue, members of ‘Concerned Citizens of Edo South Senatorial District’ on their call to recall Senator Neda Imasuen from senate.
Bishop Ochei said Senator Neda Imasuen was elected on the platform of the Labour Party overwhelmingly.
Ochei said that citing that Imasuen did not call to appreciate them having won his election was baseless.
He said Omobude Agho and Comrade Ezeimwenghian Uwangue did not know the workings of a senator.
He said the duty of a legislator is captured in the federal republic of Nigerian constitution of 1999 as amended in section 58(1),(2), (3), (4), (5) and section 58 (a), (b), section 59 (1), (a), (b), (d).
He said the duty of a legislator is to make laws for the good governance of the nation and not otherwise.
He said also that, for the duo to carry out their recalling process, they need to get the signatures of 51 percent of the total registered voters in the senatorial district or the federal constituency of the member of the federal house of representatives to sign the recall of a senator or a member of federal house of representatives at all polling units in the senatorial district, their name, signatures, state, local government area, ward and unit to enable INEC carry out a referendum.
He said the duo, in their letter to the Resident Electoral Commissioner , INEC, Edo State, dated 6th February 2024 titled Requests for Recall Process’ shows that they are ignorant of the 1999 constitution and Electoral Act 2022 as it relates to recall of a senator.
He however said Imasuen has been performing his duty as a legislator which he was elected to do at the red chamber, therefore the members of People’s Defender Advocate passed a vote of implicit confidence on senator Neda Imasuen for his legislative sagacity.
In a swift response, Omobude Agho said that, what they have just done, was for the interest of the Edo South Senatorial District and for their own personal gains.