The crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took another twist on Wednesday with the declaration of 12 seats in the state House of Assembly vacant.

There are 24 lawmakers in the Assembly and the affected 12 legislators have not been inaugurated.

The seats declared vacant are those of Etsako West I, Etsako West II, Owan East, Owan West, Etsako Central, Etsako East and Esan Central.

Others are Uhunmwonde, Oredo East, Oredo West, Egor, Ovia North East I, Ovia North East II and Ovia South-west I.

The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Yekini Idiaye, who disclosed to journalists in Benin City, the state capital, said the resolution to declare the seats vacant was reached during Wednesday’s plenary.

According to him, the members representing Oredo East and Owan East state constituencies, who were sworn-in, failed to meet the mandatory 181-day sitting requirement for a member in a calendar year.

He added that the other affected lawmakers failed to present themselves for inauguration.

The deputy speaker said: “Their constituents have been complaining and have come to us that they want their voices and concerns to be heard at the House. So, people who are willing to provide quality representation have to be elected to bring the matters of the distraught constituents to the floor for debate and legislation, where necessary.”

The Edo State chapter of APC has been rocked by crisis as a result of conflict between Governor Godwin Obaseki and the party National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, over control of party machinery in the state.