The face-off between members of the 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State House of Assembly and the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose yesterday took a new dimension as the lawmakers have formally written the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, to set up a seven man panel that would investigate the allegation of gross misconduct raised against Fayose and his deputy, Dr Olubunmi Eleka in the impeachment notice. Dr. Adewale Omirin, the Speaker, confirmed the telephone yesterday. He was apparently travelling back to Osogbo from Ekiti. Ayo Fayose The lawmakers who reappeared in Ado Ekiti, the state capital yesterday, after similar efforts were frustrated by security officials on Tuesday sat at Mary Hills Boys High School, Ado-Ekiti, in line with Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution as amended which empowers the Assembly to regulate their sittings, including sitting in a public building within the state capital if conditions in the hallowed chamber endanger members’ lives. According to the statement by Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Mr Wole Olujobi, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Churchill Adedipe, Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency, relying on Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) moved the motion empowering the chief judge to set up the panel Adedipe further explained that the sitting ought to have taken place in the hallowed chamber on April 7, 2015 but members were prevented from coming to the state by hoodlums who in collaboration with some security operatives mounted roadblock and threatened their lives with dangerous weapons, thereby making them to abandon going to the Assembly. His motion was, however, seconded by the deputy speaker, Adetunji Orisalade, representing Ido/Osi Constituency II. According to Olujobi; “After debates, the lawmakers in a unanimous vote supported the motion directing the chief judge to set up the panel “The lawmakers, according to the statement gave the chief judge maximum of seven days to set up the panel and adjourned till the next sitting day. But the Chief Registrar of the state High Court,Mr David Fasanmi in a telephone interview said no such directive from the lawmakers have been received by the chief judge. According to him, if such a letter comes to the state’s judiciary, it would first be received and registered in his office before going to the appropriate quarters. However, the governor has urged members of the public to disregard the information, insisting that the House is on recess. CRISIS: Members of Ekiti State council of traditional rulers during a meeting over the crises between Governor Ayodele Fayose and the 19 APC lawmakers of the State House of Assembly in Ado Ekiti, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube. In a statement by the Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka; ‘’No such meeting took place in any part of the state.’’ He said: ‘’Adewale Omirin who claimed to be Speaker had been impeached since last year November and that Omirin is in court challenging his impeachment “Kindly disregard information being circulated by the APC that their lawmakers are sitting somewhere in Ado Ekiti., “Of course, members of the House of Assembly can gather anywhere in the world to have social or political meetings. “Parliamentary business is done in the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly. “Besides, Dr Adewale Omirin, who claimed to be the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly was impeached on November 20, 2014 and he is in court, challenging his impeachment.” -
