Fear Of Invasion: Police Take Over Ekiti Assembly Complex

By Ayodele Oni

Twenty four hours after the emergence of a new Speaker for the Ekiti state House of Assembly, legislative and administrative duties have been put on hold following closure of the assembly complex.

The assembly complex, inside the new secretariat in Ado Ekiti was occupied on Wednesday by armed policemen.

A law maker representing Ikole, Gboyega Aribisogan was on Tuesday elected as a successor to late Funminiyi Afuye, who died last month.

He had defeated another lawmaker, Mrs Olubunmi Adelugba from Emure Ekiti who scored 20 votes as against 15 garnered by her opponent.

There were insinuations that the defeated lawmaker had the firm backing of the immediate former Governor Kayode Fayemi, while the new Speaker, received favour from Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

It was gathered that administrative staff that resumed for duties on Wednesday were asked to vacate the assembly premises for security reason.

This caused tension as the Police claimed that they uncovered alleged plot by some hoodlums to  attack the complex.

There were insinuation that the change of leadership did not go down well with the certain powers as the preferred candidate for the position of Speaker failed.

However, the newly elected Speaker of the Assembly, Gboyega Aribisogan who insisted that there was no crisis in the assembly.

According to him, “the leadership of the police command in Ekiti informed us this morning that it has verifiable intelligence about some hoodlums coming to attack the assembly complex and to avoid breakdown of law and order, hence the need for their presence and they have have promised us to conduct investigation on the matter and report to us before the close of work today

“I want to encourage my colleagues and staff of the assembly to be patient and bear with us, normalcy will soon return to the house.”