BREAKING: Ekiti Speaker Impeached; Fayemi’s anointed candidate elected

The Ekiti State Speaker of the House of Assembly, Gboyega Aribisogan, has been impeached by members of the assembly barely a few days after being elected him.

Recall that Aribisogan was elected as the new Speaker of the House of Assembly on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, following the death of the late Speaker, Funminyi Afuye.

He was sworn in as Speaker by the Clerk of the House, Tola Esan, following his victory on the same day.

Aribisogan defeated Bunmi Adelugba, the preferred choice of ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi with 15 votes against 10 votes.

24 hours after the new Speaker was elected, the security operatives sealed off the assembly complex on the suspicion that mayhem could be unleashed on the facility.

On Sunday, the Aribisogan alleged that the former governor Dr Kayode Fayemi was working with members of the state legislature to oust him.

Mr Aribisogan placed the blame at the foot of Fayemi, querying the former governor for failing to acknowledge him since his election as Speaker.

But on Monday morning Nigerian Police barred both journalists and workers from gaining entry to the Ekiti State House of Assembly complex.

Newsflash Nigeria gathered that a cross-section of members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly holding a plenary session amidst tight security.

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

Some political loyalists were also seen in groups around the complex.

It was gathered that the sitting was in connection with the leadership tussle rocking the house.

Our correspondent learnt that seven lawmakers sitting at the close-door plenary.

Rt. Hon Hakeem Jamiu, who is the deputy speaker, presided over the plenary.

Sources gathered that 10 absent members were sent their letters of apologies to the house and abide by the seven lawmakers.

The Deputy Speaker frowned at Mr Aribisogan for denigrating the image of the House by taking the internal affairs of the house to social media and he was impeached by members of the house.

The lawmakers elected Bunmi Adelugba, the preferred choice of ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi as a new speaker.

After swearing in the new speaker, she suspended the impeached Speaker, Rt. Hon Gboyega Aribisogan and 6 others without pay with immediate effect.

The six lawmakers suspended and barred alongside the impeached Speaker are Hon. Tajudeen Akingbolu (Ekiti West 1), Hon. Tope Ogunleye (Ilejemeje), Hon. Ajibade Adeyemi (Moba 1), Hon. Adekemi Balogun (Ado 1), Hon. Yemi Ayokunle (Ekiti Southwest 1) and Hon. Adegoke Olajide (Efon).

She barred the seven lawmakers from 1.5km radius of the premises of the House of Assembly Complex and they are to hand over properties of government in their possession to the Clerk of the House.

She said: “Anyone of the suspended members wishing to be reabsorbed must write a letter of apology to the leadership of the House

“That apart from the allegations contained in the report of the Adhoc investigative committee, the Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Hakeem Jamiu also frowned at the impeached Speaker for denigrating the image of the House by taking the internal affairs of the house to social media. This is unacceptable.

Rt. Hon Hakeem Jamiu who presided over the plenary until the election of Rt. Hon. Mrs Olubunmi Adelugba had earlier dissolved all existing Principal positions and appointed Hon

Johnson Oyekola Bode Adeoye as the new Leader of Govt Business while he also resuscitated the already dissolved Committee on Appropriation.

The new Speaker thanked her colleagues for electing her as Speaker and promised not to take their trust for granted.

The Speaker later adjourned the house sine die (indefinitely).

The new speaker said: It is important to let the gentlemen of the press know that all principal positions of the House belong to the party. And the party as a critical stakeholder has input in who occupies what position.

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