Ekiti Assembly Recalls Four Suspended Members

By Ayodele Oni

The Ekiti State House of Assembly seems to be threading on the path of reconciliation as four of its members suspended last week have been recalled.

The four were suspended in the wake of impeachment of Gboyega Aribisogan in a manner that has been condemned by stakeholders in the state.

Bunmi Adelugba, who reportedly enjoys support from former Governor Kayode Fayemi and leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state was thereafter elected as Speaker.

State Council of Obas on Monday held a meeting with the two parties in the dispute with an appeal to Aribisogan to drop the court case he instituted against his impeachment.

It was learnt that it was at the meeting that leadership of the parliament was told by the royal fathers to recall the suspended members, described as arrow heads of Aribisogan’s emergence as Speaker as part of the reconciliation process.

The assembly’s leadership, had earlier stated that affected members, who are to be on suspension without pay, will have to write letters of apology to the assembly’s leadership before they will be reabsorbed.

One of them, Kemi Balogun was was recalled during Monday’s plenary while others were recalled on Tuesday.

Those that had their suspension quashed on Tuesday are Tajudeen Akingbolu, Goke Olajide, Yemisi Ayokunle, Adeyemi Raphael Ajibade, and Tope Ogunleye.

The assembly is still silence on the fate of the impeached Speaker, who is already in Court to challenge his removal.

In a statement, Adeoye Aribasoye, spokesman for the assembly, stated that ” Ekiti state House of Assembly today, 29 day of November, 2022 at her plenary sitting lifted the suspension earlier placed on the following honourable members:

“Tope Ogunleye – Ilejemeje Constituency; Yemisi Ayokunle – Ekiti South West I; Ajibade Rapheal Adeyemi – MOBA I

“The reinstatement is consequent to the consideration of their various letters of apology to the house and fulfillment of other conditions attached thereto.

“The three honourable members are therefore been readmitted to the Ekiti legislative fold with all their rights and privileges restored.”