Ekiti Assembly Elects Two Speakers Within Seven Days, As Adelugba Emerges, Aribisogan Impeached; Fmr Gov Fayemi Connection

By Ayodele Oni

Within seven days, Ekiti state House of Assembly has elected two Speakers.

Gboyega Aribisogan from Ikole Constituency was elected last Tuesday after defeating Bunmi Adelugba from Emure with 15 to 20 votes.

He was immediately sworn in and appointed a set of new officers for the house after sacking those members that are not in his group.

His election did not however go down well with leaders of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) especially former Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is backing Adelugba.

It was learnt that the thinking of the leaders is that the position of the Speaker should be allowed to remain at the south senatorial district till the end of the sixth assembly,despite the death of the former Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye.

The sixth assembly tenure is expected to end in June next year to pave the way for a new set of members.

Sources at the assembly revealed that those working against the interest of Fayemi are mainly members that have been denied ticket for second term, including Aribisogan.

Dr Fayemi, who has been in the state capital for a week now is using the leadership of the APC in the state to ensure that his candidate is installed as Speaker.

Series of meetings were reportedly held at an hotel in Ado at the weekend to fine-tune the process of installing Adelugba as Speaker.

Some members of the Assembly on Monday attend a plenary session amidst tight security despite that the new Speaker has adjourned sitting indefinitely.

The assembly complex is surrounded by armed policemen who barred both journalists and workers from gaining entry.

Some leaders of the APC were also seen loitering around the assembly while the session was ongoing.

At the Monday’s sitting, Aribisogan was impeached and suspended indefinitely along with six of his supporters. Adelugba was reportedly elected by 17 members.

Others on indefinite suspension are  Tajudeen Akingbolu, Goke Olajide,

Yemisi Ayokunle, Adeyemi Raphael Ajibade, Kemi Balogun and Tope Ogunleye.

Monday’s session also elected new Leader of Business, Johnson Oyekola Bode- Adeoye

new Chairman of appropriation in person of Lateef Akanle.

The assembly passed supplementary budget while 2023 Budget is committed to Appropriation Committee.

Earlier, Aribisogan, speaking on Channel’s television interview programme, accused former Governor Fayemi of sponsoring some lawmakers to impeach him.

The embattled erstwhile speaker,  alleged that the former governor was against his emergence because he sees him as a betrayer.

He claimed that some lawmakers loyal to Fayemi perfected plans for his impeachment during plenary.

The former leader of Government Business, who emerged as speaker had polled 15 votes to defeat his rival, Bunmi Adelugba, last Tuesday said happenings in the Assembly since his emergence were targeted at removing him from office and impose Adelugba.

“When Fayemi called us to his residence and said he wanted us to support Hon Adelugba, I stood up to say that could not be done by fiat or by imposition.

“That we had leaders that we have to consult and that we would get back to them. Ordinarily, we should be looking at the constitution and the standing order of the House.”

He said he still tried to reach Fayemi through a text message on Saturday night, saying, “Up till now, he has not done anything on it, but he has been calling our members to go and impeach me tomorrow (Monday).

“As I speak with you, seven of our members are locked up in a guest house in Ado Ekiti in cahoots with some of his former aides.

“They don’t want democratic processes to take place in the Assembly and these people are even with arms, saying they are going to assassinate the speaker and take over the place tomorrow (Monday) morning.

“Majority of the members of the Assembly voted for me, but a few of them, who felt that perhaps I did not follow the directive of the former governor of the state, felt that they would make the place ungovernable for my administration.

“The Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Biodun Oyebanji assured that the government was looking into it and that there would be amicable resolution until about 24 hours ago when we began to see that some clandestine moves are being made to invade the House of Assembly on Monday morning.

“I want prominent people in Ekiti State like Aare Afe Babalola, Chief Wole Olanipekun and Femi Falana and all our traditional rulers to be on the lookout and save democracy in Ekiti State.”

The Special Adviser to Governor Oyebanji on Media, Yinka Oyebode, who spoke on the programme, ruled out chaos in the Assembly.

“I will assure you there won’t be breakdown of law and order on Monday because the governor is in touch with all the warring factions to ensure that they reconcile amicably their differences.

“I believe that we have absolute confidence in the leadership of the House. They have been there for almost three and half years and it has been rancour-free.”