The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, on Wednesday ordered the Deputy Majority Leader, Natasha Osawaru, to leave the chamber for violating the House’s dress code.
Osawaru, representing Egor Constituency, was admonished for improper dressing and wearing dark glasses.
Nicholas Asonsere, member representing Ikpoba Okha Constituency, raised a point of order, citing the House rules, which prohibit inappropriate dressing.
He emphasized the need to maintain the sanctity of the chamber and requested permission to read relevant sections of the House rules, according to politics Politics Nigeria.
Speaker Agbebaku upheld the rule, directing Osawaru to exit the chamber.
He clarified that the action was in line with the House rules, not a personal decision.
The incident highlights the importance of adhering to the House’s dress code and maintaining decorum in the legislative chamber.
The member representing Ikpoba Okha Constituency, Nicholas Asonsere, who earlier raised a point of order, noted that the Deputy Majority Leader’s mode of dressing was against the rules of the House.
In his words, “This hallowed Chamber is a sacred home. We will not continue to accept or allow anybody to bring it to disrepute.
“We have tolerated enough of the attitude and behaviour of some honourable members, so to speak, and if we do not correct this now, it would become a precedent for others to emulate, if not now and in the near future.
“Please, Mr Speaker, if I have the permission, I want to crave the indulgence to read some rules of the House sections and subsections.
“We have our own Bible which is often referred to as the rules of the Edo State House of Assembly, upon which we are being guided. Any member that violates or contravenes the rules is punishable by the law.”
In response, the Speaker of the House, Agbebaku ordered the Deputy Majority Leader to leave the chamber.
He said the action was in accordance with the House rules and not his own making.
“Improper dressing and wearing of dark [glasses] is not allowed in this House. It is not me that said it, but the House rules. So, please, let us always comply with these our rules,” he added.
