AGENE GODWIN, Benin
Nearly two months after the Appeal Court awarded him victory, the member-elect representing Etsako West constituency 2, Peter Oshoike Eruaga, is still waiting to be sworn-in by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-dominated Edo State House of Assembly.Eruaga, who claimed the victory to represent the constituency of the incumbent Governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole of the All Peoples Congress (APC) on the platform of the oppostition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has now resorted to appeals to Nigerians to prevail on the leadership of the house to swear him in as the member representing that constituency.
Eruaga added that since the Appeal Court ruled in his favour as the member representing the constituency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he wonders why the court order would not be respected by the lawmakers themselves.
The discomforted member-elect said his appeal has become necessary due to what he called ‘unjust and bias’ attitude of the Assembly Speaker, Victor Edoror, in carrying out his legitimate business of ensuring his swearing-in.
“I have tried all efforts to reach and even plead with the Speaker to respect the court ruling. I have even sent my wife to plead with his wife as women just to see how my issues can be handled.
“I have equally done same to the governor. Yes, the governor’s constituency is what we are talking about but mind you, I am not even bothered whether it’s APC or PDP but the rule of rule and Court order must be obeyed.
“We have sent him copies directly and the Speaker will not acknowledge receipt. I later told my lawyers to do same, yet he will not accept. The latest now is that we have commissioned a courier agency to send him the recent order.
“I got judgment in December and since then I have been running from pillar to pole. He even told me once in confidence that it was the governor who instructed him not to swear me in but I later found out that the governor has since distanced himself from the matter.
“Even in the event that I am sworn-in as the member representing Etsako West Constituency 2 that will make the number of PDP less while the APC will have 20. So why are they afraid of me,” he queried.
