By SIMON EBEGBULEM
BENIN — THE Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, member, Mr Bamidele Oloruntoba, who won the weekend, House of Assembly re-run election in Akoko Edo constituency 11, was yesterday, sworn in by the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Bright Omokhodion, just as the Special Assistant to the Governor, on Media, Mr John Mayaki, escaped death by the whiskers, yesterday, when suspected armed robbers shot at him in a hotel in Igarra, 48 hours after the re-run election.

Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Omokhodion swore in the new member at about 12 noon. The ACN members in the House now have a majority of 17 members as against seven of the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The PDP lawmakers have absented themselves from the House proceedings since February last year following the controversial removal of the Speaker of the House, Zakawanu Garuba by the ACN lawmakers in the House.

Meanwhile, the suspected robbers, who attacked Mayaki were said to have stormed the hotel at around 11 pm, shooting sporadically into the air. The robbers were said to have operated for three hours before policemen from the police post in Igarra arrived the scene.

Mayaki, who  lodged in the hotel where the robbers attacked, after the re-run election was robbed of  personal belongings, including official laptop containing vital documents, mobile phones, ipad and undisclosed sum of money.

He was also shot at his left arm which was operated upon in a private hospital, where the pellets were removed.

The driver of the ACN House of Representatives candidate for Akoko_Edo, Comrade  Peter Akpatason and a newly wedded couple who lodged in the hotel were also victims.