By Austin Ogwuda
ASABA—MOTORISTS plying Asaba-Benin highway were yesterday, morning stranded as youths  from Agbor barricaded the  busy highway,  protesting the refusal by the Delta State House of Assembly to swear in  Mr. Kingsley Phillips, who was declared the winner of the Ika South Constituency  election by the Court of Appeal.

Supporters had similarly protested sometimes ago at the premises of the state House of Assembly,  calling for the swearing of Mr. Philips.

The protesters claimed that the Supreme Court had refused to stay  execution of the Court of Appeal judgement, sought by Okonta and wondered  why the lawmakers were still  foot-dragging on the matter.

Placard-carrying protesters during yesterday’s protest barricaded the expressway,  forcing motorists plying the road to a halt for more than one hour before they were dispersed by a combined team of police and soldiers.

Contacted, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Victor Otomewo, said “as the number one law officer of the state, my advice on this matter was sought and I had given my advice to the organ of government (legislature).”

There had been  uneasy calm at the state House of Assembly as members could not agree on  whether to swear in Mr. Philips, whom the Court of Appeal pronounced winner of the Ika South House of Assembly seat in 2007 in place of the incumbent Speaker of the House, Mr. Okonta.

The Court of Appeal, Abuja, in May this year, unseated the Speaker of the Delta Assembly, Mr. Okonta and directed the Clerk of the Delta State House of Assembly to swear in  Philips.

Okonta immediately appealed to the Supreme Court and also asked for a stay of execution of the judgement.