Ekiti Assembly Elects Aribisogan As New Speaker

By Ayodele Oni

The political power balancing in Ekiti state has been achieved with the emergence of a new Speaker for the state House of Assembly.

The new helmsman, Gboyega Aribisogan emerged on Tuesday in a keenly contested election during plenary.

Before the demise of immediate past Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye after a brief illness, there has been underground move to force him to resign his position.

Late Afuye, from Ekiti Ikere Constituency in southern senatorial district, became Speaker after election of immediate former Governor Kayode Fayemi from the northern senatorial district.

However, Fayemi’s successor, Biodun Abayomi, hails from central district and his deputy, Monisola Afuye from the south.

With the new development, the north is left with nothing, promting agitation for power equation, but another power bloc believed that the late Speaker should be allowed to remain till June next year when the tenure of the sixth assembly will terminate.

His sudden death has created an opportunity to zone the Speakership to the north and the emergence of Aribisogan.

The voting pattern, which gave him victory still showed that the house was divided on his choice as his opponent from the south, Olubunmi Adelugba still garnered 10 votes from members as against 15 scored by the winner.

Aribisogan, who hails from Ijesa Isu Ekiti was untill his emergence the Chairman, House Committee on Information. He was immediately sworn in during plenary.

Hon Aribisogan is a two time member of the assembly